TLC star Jazz Jennings graduated from high school just a few months ago, complete with
her custom-designed pride cap, of course, and was due to start her freshman year at
Harvard this fall.
But the I Am Jazz powerhouse recently announced she has deferred her admission.
While it's common for many people to take a gap year before starting college, Jennings'
reason for not heading straight to Harvard is a bit more complicated.
She didn't reveal that she was delaying starting college until October 1st, after the fall
term was well underway.
Jennings opened up about her decision to put off attending the prestigious university in
a heartfelt Instagram post, writing,
"I wanted to share some news.
After careful consideration I have decided to take a break before starting at Harvard.
It wasn't an easy decision but it is the right one for me.
These past few years have been so full and busy that I realized I could use some time
to refocus and recenter to be the strongest version of myself."
"I just think everything in this world is mind over matter."
Jennings still plans to attend Harvard in the future, although she didn't say when she
will begin her studies.
She continued,
"I am so grateful to have the support of my parents and Harvard in making this decision
and look forward to focusing on some self-care and getting prepared to start this exciting
next chapter in my life."
Jennings announced her acceptance to the Ivy League school back in May, writing,
"I am so stoked for this next chapter of my life!
Feeling so blessed and grateful right now.
Thank you so much to my incredible family for your unconditional love and support; none
of this would be possible without all of you.
I can't wait for what's to come!"
While some critics speculated that Jennings was only admitted because of her fame, Jennings
revealed in an an Instagram story that she graduated valedictorian of her high school
class with a weighted cumulative GPA of 5.4138.
She wrote under those impressive stats,
"Try to tell me I didn't get in out of academic merit.
Yes, my advocacy and the show helped significantly, but my balance of that combined with my academic
achievements is what ultimately got me admitted.
I worked hard and I know that."
Jennings continued, saying she was, quote, "done bragging."
The I Am Jazz star ultimately concluded,
"I have the right to be proud of myself, but I don't want to come across the wrong way.
Thank you to everyone who supported me and helped me get to this point!
I have a tough decision to make, but I'm so grateful just to have the choice.
Wish me luck."
With a GPA like that, Jennings certainly has every right to brag, and has nothing to apologize
for.
Although Jennings has implied that she will still be attending Harvard, she may ultimately
decide that she doesn't need to go to college.
She previously told People that she hadn't picked a major, but she does know what she
wants to do.
She told the magazine in March 2019,
"With my life what I want to do is really combat a lot of the social systems that have
dictated our societies for so long.
There's so many things that people don't even realize they are allowing to rule their lives.
I'm hoping I can just do what I can to help this world move forward to a more loving and
accepting place where we don't judge each other as much."
Even though she's still in her teens, Jennings is already a noted LGBTQ+ activist, so it's
possible that we'll see her skipping college altogether and continuing her advocacy.
And if she does eventually make her way to the Ivy League school, she told People she
has big plans, saying,
"I'm thinking about gender studies.
Philosophy, maybe even Religion.
Communications, Journalism, Writing.
All those things."
Whether or not she ultimately ends up at Harvard, there's no doubt Jennings will go far in life.
As fans of I Am Jazz have seen time and again, when she puts her mind to something, Jennings
does what she needs to do to accomplish it.
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