It’s hard to believe, it has been 15 years since the world learned that 22-year-old R&B singer Aaliyah lost her life in a plane crash.

Not too far into what was sure to be a long lasting career, Aaliyah along with eight other people had their lives cut short in the Bahamas.

Nursing major Amari Middleton reflected to when she got the tragic news.

“Whew, I don’t even know, but I found out from my aunt because we always used to to sing her song ‘Rock the Boat,'” she said.

The level of disbelief came from a fan base that was forced to ask the question what if?

She showed the world, “Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number,” when she released an album by the same name at the young age of 15.

Much to the dismay of her family, she carried an on-again, off-again relationship with then 27-year old R. Kelly.

He was the lead songwriter and producer of her first project.

Aaliyah walked a thin line that very few could. She was often seen as the tomboy but in the blink of an eye could turn into a sex symbol.

Kinesiology major, Chilon Woodard said, “She was always herself. She was adventurous, she did what she wanted basically.”

In regard to her fans, Aaliyah was an open book allowing us the pleasure of watching her transformation into superstardom.

Since her passing fans have gone back and forth with idea of what could have been.

However, Aaliyah wasn’t a one-trick pony as she made her way to the big screen as well.

She starred in “Romeo Must Die” and “Queen of the Damned.”

Her jump to the top of the world was just getting started according to Middleton.

“I feel like there wouldn’t have been a Beyonce, if she was still alive. The singers that are not here now they wouldn’t have been as popular as they are now,” she said.

Since her passing the world has tried to come up with ways to honor the singer while trying to fill the everlasting void that she left behind.

There have even been talks of a potential Aaliyah hologram that would eventually go on tour.

Artists the likes of Chris Brown and Drake have made their peace by working with past vocals of hers in order to create what could have been.

In fact Drake even discussed the idea of doing a joint album with the deceased singer’s vocals.

Nursing major, Dominique Landin said, “I feel like it would be more of an R&B album [because] Drake is more of a poetic, R&B artist. I think the album would be pretty cool, it would be more about life and love than [anything else].”

Her final video was shot in the Bahamas for “Rock the Boat.”

The beach scenes for the video were shot just hours before the plane crash that claimed the nine lives on it.

At 5:15 of the video Aaliyah on her hands and knees flashes a smile that seems to shine brighter than the glowing sun behind her.

The video closes with Aaliyah floating the ocean surface which happens to be a white light as the video closes.

On her website her parents have a quote from Aaliyah that reads:

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same.”

Aaliyah showed us that she was truly more than a woman but she was an icon in the making.

Despite what some call a short-lived career, it has never been more apparent that was frankly one in a million.