Greetings,

There are moments in life that feel surreal while you’re living them — and working as a stagehand on the field team for Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl 60 halftime show was one of them.

I’ve been watching halftime performances since Destiny’s Child made a surprise appearance on the stage. To go from watching on television to being inside the stadium, responsible for a moving piece of the production — that was a full-circle moment.

My all-women cart team was responsible for one of the palm trees during the performance of “Nuevayol.” What you didn’t see on TV is that those palm trees had to be lifted manually by pulling a rope lever all within the six minute set up time frame of the entire set. Precision mattered. Timing mattered. Teamwork mattered. It felt like one of those quiet confirmations that I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Mega-events look glamorous on screen. What you don’t see is the quiet labor, production at just the right second, the coordination, the trust.

From being a fan through the TV screen to helping roll a palm tree onto the field — this was a dream realized. This experience carried even deeper meaning for me. My maternal uncle played a season with the Seattle Seahawks in the ’70s. My mom is from New York City. My maternal grandfather is from the Virgin Islands. I was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. And there I was — part of a cultural moment that blended New York, the Caribbean, Latinidad, football, and music on one of the biggest stages in the world.

The production itself was mesmerizing. The LED lights synced perfectly with the beat of the music. As someone with hearing loss, I often rely on visual cues. Watching the lights pulse in harmony with the orchestra’s notes was impressive and it was immersive. Add to that the inclusion of sign language interpreters this year, it felt like accessibility was finally being treated as part of the spectacle.

What made the event even more meaningful was the team I worked with. My cart number was 22. My cart team was made up entirely of women. They were considerate of my hearing loss and created an environment where I felt supported, respected, and included. I wasn’t the only Muslim woman in the room, I was not the only Black woman in the room. It felt good to be seen and heard.

When it comes to setting your goals, set the intention, take action when guided to do so, let it go and it will come in divine timing. This kind of role is great if you’re interested in live events, sports operations, festivals, or production — especially if you want to understand how things run behind the scenes. I'll be releasing a YouTube video on how I found out about the opportunity and what the process was like. Be sure to subscribe by searching for See Life Different with Zaakirah Nayyar on YouTube.

On to the next one in Los Angeles.

I am Zaakirah (zaa-key-ra) Muhammad, a deafblind retinoblastoma cancer survivor, creative tech-savvy entrepreneur and TEDx speaker, with over a decade of experience in photography and digital communications. As a brand cultivating strategist, author, and podcaster, I empower you to step outside of your comfort zone, understand your purpose, and show you how to powerfully tell your story through digital marketing. As your brand therapist, I uncover your blind spots showcasing your superpower. Learn More $9.99 Seeing Life Through a Different Lens eBook This book will inspire you to overcome adversity with resilience. Featuring real-life stories about a young adult and... Read more Get it now! ​ ​​​​​​

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