Rosedale Public School student captures second place in global coding competition

Naina Patel, a student at Sarnia’s Rosedale Public School, earned a silver standing in the international Fiero Code Light Quest Competition for her original story-driven adventure game.

The Lambton Kent District School Board is celebrating a world-class achievement from one of its own. Naina Patel, a student at Rosedale Public School in Sarnia, recently secured second place globally in the Fiero Code Light Quest Competition.

Competing against students from across the world, Patel’s project was recognized for its technical skill, creativity, and narrative depth. The award-winning entry was an adventure game she built from the ground up, focusing on how player choices can shape a story.

When she first saw the results, Patel admitted the news was difficult to process. She recounted rereading the announcement several times to ensure it was real before the excitement took hold.

"I got super excited — like, ‘Whoa… I did it!’" she said.

Patel has been experimenting with coding since Grade 1, beginning with Scratch Jr. She noted that she enjoys how the medium blends logic with imagination. For this competition, she taught herself new ways to organize code and refined her debugging skills.

"The part I enjoyed most was just getting to code the game," Patel explained. "I had a lot of fun seeing everything slowly come together."

Her success highlights the importance of local access to digital learning tools. By providing platforms that allow students to explore STEM pathways, local schools help youth develop problem-solving skills that have real-world applications.

Patel encourages other Sarnia–Lambton students to try their hand at technology, even if it seems intimidating at first. She views the process as a series of "fun little puzzles" rather than a chore.

"Go for it," she said. "You never know what you might end up loving or what you might be really good at."

The young coder credits her father as a major inspiration for keeping her updated on global innovations. Looking ahead, she dreams of a career in the technology field and hopes to eventually create large-scale games.

When she isn't building digital worlds, Patel enjoys drawing, sports, and spending time with family. Her global ranking serves as a reminder of the talent fostered within Sarnia’s neighbourhood schools.