Growing up, my brother wanted to be a mailman. Each day, he watched my mother stand by the window, waiting for letters from her family back in Turkey. When a letter finally arrived, he saw the joy and relief it brought her as she tore it open, reading it again and again. To him, the mailman held the most important job in the world. That memory has stayed with me because it captures a simple truth: We model our aspirations on what we see around us–whose work we encounter and which roles appear valued.

That is why Bad Bunny’s performance at the Super Bowl on Sunday brought both joy and tears to my eyes. To see someone command one of the largest stages in the world in a language other than English—to tell a story rooted in Puerto Rico—was a reminder of how powerfully visibility signals value. It spoke to the journeys of so many who leave one homeland for the possibility of a better life in another, even when that possibility can only be pursued in a different language. My friend Lourdes Martin recently wrote that migrants don’t leave their homes unless they feel that is the best, and perhaps the only choice.

In my book, From The Other Side of The World” I wrote about my parents emigrating from Turkey, because “prosperity was something to be had in another language.” What was on display at the Super Bowl halftime show wasn’t merely a pop star and a set of songs. It was proof that America was advanced enough that prosperity could be had in whatever language you speak. Bad Bunny’s performance transcended Latino culture. It showed that whatever your background or tongue, you are not limited; you are visible; you are valued.