She’s putting herself first! After Jazz Jennings was accepted by Harvard University in April 2019, the star has decided to defer her offer of admission. On Tuesday, October 1, the teen opened up about the decision in an Instagram post, revealing that she would instead be focusing on herself. After years of filming her TV show, I Am Jazz, working as a trans activist and undergoing gender confirmation surgery, she’s ready to take a little time off.

“I wanted to share some news,” Jazz, 18, told her fans. “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 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.❤️”

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Taking it step by step, day by day☀️🌈

A post shared by Jazz Jennings (@jazzjennings_) on

The news comes after the teen spent her summer exploring abroad. In June, she shared that she was “thankful to finally be getting a vacation” while visiting Italy. Even during that trip, though, she took the opportunity to speak out for the trans community and spread a message of acceptance and love. “While here, my mind keeps going back to World Pride,” she wrote. “Queer people — specifically the transgender community — have been targeted so severely these past few months/years, [and] it’s just very disheartening. Despite these devastating injustices, we cannot lose faith in the power of love. … Transgender [and] queer people aren’t trying to hurt anyone, we simply wish to be our authentic selves [and] love whoever we choose to.”

Some still aren’t getting that message, though. In September, former Counting On star Derick Dillard continued to speak out against his fellow TLC star. Though he refrained from making any new transphobic comments, he did tell his haters to move on from the ones he’d made in the past. After he claimed that all people should be treated with dignity and fairness, a fan asked him to apologize to Jazz — but the father of two wasn’t having it. “Oh get over it already,” he said. “Any comments were directed @TLC and the parents. I love @JazzJennings__ . We have got to protect children!” Maybe one day the star will see that “loving” Jazz and treating her with dignity means respecting her gender identity — but until then, the teen will just keep being the queen she is.

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