Former NOC Enid Lady Jet Laeticia Hardy recently spoke to her high school about her experiences as a college athlete.
She received an Ambassador Award from her school.
The 6-0 forward from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, transferred to NOC Enid from Long Island University. She will attend Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, New York, in Fall 2026.
She averaged 8.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for the Lady Jets in 2025-26.
Hardy spoke to the students about learning the game at a young age and how that created an opportunity for her in basketball.
"When I started playing basketball here at NDL, I knew absolutely nothing about the sport," Hardy said. " Even though I had always been very athletic growing up, basketball was completely new to me. I just wanted to stay active, have fun with my friends, and basketball happened to be the first tryout on the list. I didn't even know you could earn scholarships, play at the university level, or build a future through basketball. To me, it was simply another sport."
She then decided to leave home at 16 to play basketball."When I decided to move to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu at 16 to play basketball, honestly, it scared me," she said. "I was leaving home and moving into a residence with people I didn't know, in a completely new environment. I didn't have anyone around me who had followed that path before. I was truly taking a leap into the unknown."
"Looking back, though, I think many of the greatest opportunities in my life came because I was willing to be uncomfortable," she added. "And that's something I really hope you remember tonight: you do not need to have everything figured out before you can succeed."
"Often, we wait until we're ready, confident, or certain before taking action. But the truth is that we almost never feel completely ready. If I had waited until I felt fully confident before making certain decisions, I would never have left home at 16, I would never have gone to play in New York, and I would never be where I am today," Hardy said.
"What made the difference for me wasn't being the most talented. It was being consistent. Continuing to work even when I doubted myself. Continuing after losses. Continuing when things changed or didn't go according to plan. Because there were difficult moments too. Changing teams, changing cities, changing countries, starting over, and having to prove again and again that I belonged—even when I wasn't sure myself that I did. It wasn't always easy. But every step taught me something."
Hardy said that basketball taught her so much about life.
"Playing my sport has given me so much more than basketball. It has taught me discipline, confidence, adaptability, and most importantly, the belief that we are capable of more than we think. Those lessons will help me for the rest of my life, whether in my career, my relationships, or the challenges life brings."
"So, to the young athletes here tonight, my message is simple: try new things. Dare to step outside your comfort zone, even if you aren't the most confident person in the room. Don't be afraid of not being perfect right away. You do not need to be the best right now to accomplish great things later.
And most importantly, don't let doubt make decisions for you because honestly, I was just a girl who wanted to play sports after school… and today, that one decision has led me to experiences I never could have imagined."
Lady Jets head coach Michael Dominguez appreciated Hardy on the Lady Jets this past year.
"It was a pleasure to have Laeticia on our team," he said. "She is an extremely hard worker and is extremely dedicated to basketball and academics."
"I believe she embodied what a standout student athlete looks like, Dominguez added. "She was always in the gym getting extra workouts, earning multiple D1-D2 offers, and earning a 4.0 GPA. She did everything the right way and was a great representative of our program here at NOC Enid."