Alpha Matte option not working After Effects 2022

I need help in using Alpha Matte. It does not seem to be working for me as intended. I have a text layer that I want to mask, I created a shape layer and placed it above the text layer and changed the TrkMat option on the text layer to Alpha Mask of the new shape layer. Whenever I do this, the text layer completely dissappears no matter where the new shape layer is located. My understanding it that the text layer will show only when the shape layer and text layer on top of each other positionally in the layout. Am I thinking wrong? Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong.