The first time I ever listened to a Prince song was halfway during the second semester in Mrs. Mindy Armour‘s Dance 2 class. At that time, the only knowledge of Prince my mind had was — ashamedly — a cover of his song “Kiss” by pop-rock band Maroon 5. My uncultured love of modern music had blinded me from learning about famous icons before my time, icons that laid the foundation for music today.

As phones buzzed and beeped yesterday during passing periods and in class, notifications were popping up left and right as various newspapers and publications released the unfathomable: Prince was dead. To completely understand the effect of Prince’s death, you have to first understand that Prince was not just any old artist. His ability to defy genres and to go wherever the wind would take him influenced his music immensely and not only shaped the music industry, but also the lives of everyone around him.

“Prince, for me, was the American idol. I like his music, I like how he spoke English and learning his songs helped me understand English. For me, he was this coming of age person of music. I went to see his movie “Purple Rain” three times, I even took my mother the last time I went. My best friend and I waited in line to get tickets and we went to see him in concert — I was fifteen years old. He played a part in my life that is going to be different now,” Spanish teacher Ms. Luisa Karimighovanloo said.

But Prince wasn’t just an artist, he was a person that was ahead of his time. He bent every rule society had placed, challenging everyone and everything. With his long hair, winged eyeliner, but masculine features, Prince broke gender barriers, declaring he was neither man nor woman. His declaration of gender-fluidity showcased a great part of his personality the freedom he displayed on and off the stage.

“He was definitely one of the most inspiring musicians and never really cared what anybody else thought. I liked him because my mom really liked him. She had posters and CDs everywhere so she had that impression on me that he was a good musician,” junior Smail Donlagic said.

As the world mourned Prince’s death, people everywhere recalled moments of their lives that Prince impacted.

“Prince and David Bowie were musicians that did impact my life. When I was a kid, when I got my first LP, I got it from them. Prince sang a lot of songs and he wrote a lot of songs like Pat Benatar. If it wasn’t for him, there would have been a lot of music I would have missed out on,” IRC clerk Regina Kwuit said.

Now as I recall the first day I heard “When Doves Cry,” it holds so much more meaning now that I understand who Prince was and the legend he remained until the end. I discover that he was more than just an artist, but an activist as well, fighting for the rights of people such as Freddie Gray, a black man who died in police custody by releasing the song “Baltimore.” I learn about the person who was larger than life, who fought his demons the only way he knew how: with music. He was his own person and had inspired everyone around him, including me.

With the news of his passing, it has become increasingly clear that last night, the world truly heard what it sounds like “When Doves Cry.”