Bryce Dallas Howard graduates from NYU after enrolling in 1999: '21 years in the making'

Bryce Dallas Howard is a college graduate.

The "Jurassic World" star, 39, announced that she graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts more than two decades after she originally enrolled in 1999.

"I am so overcome with joy to share that I have officially graduated from NYU!" Howard wrote on Instagram Friday. "I first enrolled in undergrad in ’99, then took a leave of absence to start working as an actor, so this has been 21 years in the making!"

She called the academic feat a "dream," even though she wasn't able to attend an in-person graduation and walk across the stage, like many graduates following stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"It’s been a long dream of mine to complete my formal education and though all of us NYU grads couldn’t wear glorious purple robes together today, I want to say thank you to everyone who supported and encouraged all of us graduates every step of the way," she wrote.

Howard, the daughter of director Ron Howard, added: "To the class of 2020, WE MADE IT 🎉🎓."

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In a lengthy letter penned to her fellow graduates, Howard explained that she left NYC in December 2001 for an "off-Broadway acting job."

"I fully intended on graduating one day," she said. "In fact, I continually deferred the following semester and the semesters after that, hoping that instead of 'dropping out,' I was simply taking a 'leave of absence.' Again, and again, and again."

Howard's acting career began to blossom – she starred in "The Village" (2004), "Lady in the Water" (2006), "Spider-Man 3" (2007) and "Terminator Salvation" (2009) – but the actress said she "legitimately missed school and dreamed of one day getting my masters."

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While acting, Howard enrolled part-time at an accredited university to transfer credits and even returned to NYU to teach for the Nine Muses Entertainment Storytelling Lab.

"During these last few semesters of teaching I have thought many times, 'Wow, it’s going to be such an amazing experience to graduate alongside so many of my students," Howard said, even if she's "decades older than the majority of graduates."

In addition to her degree, Howard has another souvenir from college: Her school sweetheart, Seth Gabel, whom she married in 2006. The couple have two children.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bryce Dallas Howard graduates from NYU after enrolling in 1999