How we feeling, Miss Jasmine?
JAZZ JENNINGS: Tired, but ready for surgery.
Last season on "I Am Jazz."
The goodbye?
All right.
I had the gender confirmation surgery
and now we're on the third surgery.
There's scar everywhere.
If you don't have to cut this, why would you cut that?
There are a lot of things that have
to go perfectly for her to have a beautiful, aesthetic result.
We corrected the scars and it actually looks like a vulva.
JAZZ JENNINGS: So much better.
I have not worn a bikini in so, so long.
I have a [MUTED].
I'm going to show the world.
OK, Harvard.
Congratulations.
[SQUEALING]
I feel like a lot of Harvard students,
their mindset is success, success, success.
And there was definitely a sort of intensity
that I was feeling.
That definitely exists.
JAZZ JENNINGS: I am feeling a little bit intimidated by that,
because I know I can be a perfectionist,
and I put a lot of pressure on myself.
I'm just worried that the environment of Harvard
may not be good for my mental health.
JEANETTE JENNINGS: Where did you just go?
What are you thinking about?
Honestly, if I let it, my mind can be a monster.
JEANETTE JENNINGS: I'm extremely concerned, because she's been
having quite a few lows lately.
And more tears than I've ever seen.
I've had a lot of anxiety lately,
and worry, and fear, and doubt.
And it could just be very crippling at times,
and it's just been such a struggle.
JEANETTE JENNINGS: I've never seen her kind of unraveling
to this extent.
JAZZ JENNINGS: The reality is that I
have a mental health issue.
And it's hard for me to share that, it's hard for me
to admit that, but it's the truth.
The past two years have been pretty transformative for me,
you know.
I went through a lot.
I experienced some high highs and low lows,
and those low moments were the lowest of the low
that I've ever been through in my entire life.
[APPLAUSE]
Two years ago, I had just graduated
as valedictorian of my class.
I was on my way to one of the greatest
institutions in the world.
I completed all of my gender affirmation surgeries.
Everything was perfect, but by the time
I was ready to go to Harvard, I was just in complete shambles.
And I was actually struggling severely
with mental health issues-- severe depression and anxiety.
ARI JENNINGS: What?
Nothing, I just have got really bad anxiety.
Why?
It just like came on.
GREG JENNINGS: It was so many events that had Jazz
go in really a downward spiral.
JEANETTE JENNINGS: When the drag show didn't
go the way it was supposed to go,
you know, he's had a breakdown.
JAZZ JENNINGS: I'm done.
JEANETTE JENNINGS: When her speech
wasn't what it was supposed to be, she had a breakdown.
OK.
JAZZ JENNINGS: I don't know what to do.
She set such a high bar for herself that she could never
attain what she wanted to attain-- it
was never going to be perfect.
And she was just kind of like with water boiling
and finally just went over.
It's OK.
She wanted to go to Harvard and we actually took the steps
to go to school, but we determined
that it was in Jazz's best interest
to hold off and take a leave of absence.
JAZZ JENNINGS: When you last saw me,
I wasn't eating at all I was in a dark phase,
and I was the lowest weight I've ever been.
And then on the reverse side of that, I started binge eating
and I gained weight, and more weight, and more weight.
Food was just that one thing that was constant
and that would make me feel at least a little bit better.
But I just let myself go all the way,
and now almost 100 pounds heavier, here I am today.
They made it!
Look at this.
What took you so long?
You have a receiving line.
JEANETTE JENNINGS: Hug the birthday girl.
JACKY JENNINGS: Happy birthday, girl.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
Thank you, sweetheart.
JAZZ JENNINGS: Love you.
It's definitely been difficult to watch Jazz live every day
with mental health issues.
SANDER JENNINGS: She still has a lot of steps to go,
but she definitely is in a way better place
than she was a little while back.
We need some fun.
It's been a long climb and we need some fun.
I need some fun too.
I've been in my desk for the last year.
All right, is it time to boat?
JAZZ JENNINGS: Oh my god, are you guys ready for this?
All aboard.
Let's go.
Hello.
I got a lei.
There you go.
Thank you.
Welcome.
JEANETTE JENNINGS: The last two years have
been extremely overwhelming.
At times, it was like rock bottom hard.
GREG JENNINGS: And then along with that,
we were hit with this great pandemic.
All of our kids came home, and Jack and Jacky,
we've had to be really distant from.
So this is really one of the first times
that we're all together, and what a great way
to celebrate Jacky's birthday.
Let's get paddling fast.
[YELLING]
Go, go, go!
Hey guys, we're moving.
This is like the recumbent bike in the house, right?
ARI JENNINGS: We're going to have
those like sore butt cheeks.
JACKY JENNINGS: All I know is my sciatica
better not bother me tomorrow.
How amazing it is to be together with all of you
on such a special occasion.
Love you the most, each and every one of you.
JEANETTE JENNINGS: Love you the most.
Yay!
- Happy birthday. - Happy birthday.
JAZZ JENNINGS: Happy birthday. How does it feel to be 81?
Do we have to go there?
I don't go around announcing my age.
I have to say that the man I'm married to does.
We're very opposite that way.
JACK JENNINGS: Because I'm proud of you.
Aging is ugly.
Physically ugly.
You don't look so bad.
It's covered up.
We fought through a pandemic and that's a whole lifetime ago.
We really need a little catch up time.
SANDER JENNINGS: It's been cool to live back at home,
because me and Griffin would be in college together,
and then I got to move back home and I got to be with these two
again.
JACKY JENNINGS: There goes the empty nest, mom and dad.
SANDER JENNINGS: It's pretty nice to all be under one roof
again, but it's been chaotic.
GRIFFEN JENNINGS: There's a lot going on.
A lot of adult energy.
Smell my pits.
Uh uh.
Definitely, they're very messy.
Flip an egg time!
Oh, Sander!
JAZZ JENNINGS: Oh my god.
JEANETTE JENNINGS: You guys have to do
the garbage before you leave.
There you go.
No, you can take it out.
It was much easier when they were little.
I'll change dirty diapers any day over the stuff
that we go through.
Are you getting up today?
Is Jeremy here?
Don't go in there.
JAZZ JENNINGS: You guys are going to be empty-nesters soon,
because Sander is going to move out,
and then Ari's going to get her PhD.
And then I'm hopefully going to Harvard.
I really, really want to be sitting in a classroom
this fall.
Like this is everything I've been waiting for,
but there are some prerequisites.
I need to submit a therapist letter saying that I have been
stable for at least six months, and that I'm
ready to attend school.
Also, I need to prove to Harvard that I
can carry a full schedule.
So I have to work or volunteer for 40 hours a week,
showing that I can be productive.
Look at the dolphins.
Oh my god.
They're so close.
Oh, wow!
JACK JENNINGS: Are they going to want to follow us?
JACKY JENNINGS: Gotta ask them.
GRIFFEN JENNINGS: So should we take a shot with you, grandma,
for your birthday?
Celebratory shot?
Who has a shot?
JACKY JENNINGS: Oh.
Some vodka, grandma.
Silent killer.
JAZZ JENNINGS: It's really cool to be
out on a boat with my family, because the past two years
have been a struggle-- not just for me,
but for my entire family.
They've held my hand, and supported me,
and stayed by my side throughout every single second of it all.
And I'm just-- I focus every day on expressing
gratitude for them, because we really are a blessed family.
I know that I have a long way to go,
but I'm finally ready to begin the next chapter.
Grandpa Jack, give a cheers.
JACK JENNINGS: The best times of my life
is when I have seven other members of our family with us.
I just enjoy every minute of it, and I want many more.
Cheers!
Happy birthday, Jacky.