“Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” ~ A. A. Milne
“Judgment stops thought.” ~ Mr. Dietrich, my 9th grade English teacher
My 9th grade English teacher, Mr. Dietrich, was an odd guy, and at first I thought he was a terrible teacher. He did a module of lessons with us that had nothing to do with English. Because I loved English, I was irritated. I expected to be writing and reading classics. Instead, he taught us life lessons that 20 years later are still top of mind for me.
Instead, we learned about the work of Salvador Dali (he always paints mountains into his works). He told us we should get as far into a novel as we can upon first reading so we get engaged quickly and finish it. He encouraged us to read every time we’re waiting in line (to this day I always have a book with me). I still remember the definition of a quaff because of the funny way he explained it – it’s when you wake up at 1:00am and think you could drink a gallon of water. He challenged us to lie in bed motionless, and see if we could tell where our toes are without looking. (We have no idea where they are until we move them – welcome to the idea of the mind-body connection.)
The most important lesson I learned in that class is that judgment stops thought. So as crazy as I thought he was to teach us these things in English class, they’ve stuck with me all these years and I think about them and action them in my life on a regular basis. My first impression of Mr. Dietrich was wrong – he just may have been the best high school teacher I had. He wasn’t a weed; he was flower. I just needed to get to know him.
I’m a fairly good judge of character, though some times I get it wrong. I trust some people too readily, and don’t trust others enough upon first glance. There are times that these missteps have caused me to miss out on someone really incredible, and there are times when I’ve been deeply hurt by people who turned out to be different than I first imagined them to be. Most of the time, I keep Mr. Dietrich’s advice about judgment close to my heart. His lesson of withholding judgment as long as possible serves us well. It leaves our minds open to different scenarios and possibilities, allowing us more time and evidence to make a sound decision.
Now that I think of it, I owe Mr. Dietrich a card to thank him for showing me that English class was more than just reading the classics and writing essays. He taught me some enormous life lessons that have stuck with me 20 years later, that I’m sure I will be putting to good use for another 20 years into the future. If we can withhold judgment when we glance at the weeds of our lives, I’m confident that many of those weeds will turn to flowers. And maybe a few of those flowers will show their weed-y side sooner rather than later, saving us some heartache down the line. The important thing to remember is that to truly know something or someone we have to give it more than a first glance. Sound judgment requires more than a first impression – it requires a second chance.
Published by Christa Avampato
IN BRIEF
Author, journalist, digital product manager, and licensed New York City tour guide. Creator and host of NYC's Secrets and Lies. Alumna of the University of Pennsylvania (BA), the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA), Arizona State University (Biomimicry), and the University of Cambridge (MSt in Sustainability Leadership).
I build digital media platforms, report on urban climate resilience and biodiversity, and produce live narrative experiences that connect communities to history, nature, and place.
THE DEEP DIVE
My work centers on a single thread: building systems and stories that foster deep connection to our shared world. Across digital streaming, environmental reporting, and live civic storytelling, I design experiences that help people understand complex ideas and the environments around them.
DIGITAL PRODUCT STRATEGY & MEDIA LEADERSHIP
At Carnegie Hall, I serve as Digital Product Manager, leading product strategy, operations, and technical delivery for the video streaming platform Carnegie Hall+. I translate artistic mission into scalable, high-performance streaming architecture that reaches audiences globally. Previously, I led agile product and delivery teams across operations and compliance at American Express, managed Broadway theatrical productions and national tours, and guided strategic initiatives across cultural institutions.
ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM & AUTHORSHIP
As a freelance journalist, I investigate how living systems, urban infrastructure, and human culture intersect. My reported features on urban decarbonization, biodiversity, coastal resilience, and biomimicry appear in publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Mongabay, Natural History Magazine, and Foreign Policy Magazine. In fiction, I write the Emerson Page young adult novel series, alongside upcoming historical fiction and nonfiction works on New York history, mythology, and human resilience. I also write Togetherhood, a LinkedIn newsletter focused on urban ecology and community restoration, and co-host the podcast Frameworks in the Wild.
LIVE EXPERIENCE & CIVIC STORYTELLING
As a licensed New York City tour guide and live event producer, I transform urban landscapes into shared narrative encounters. I created, produce, and host NYC's Secrets and Lies, an interactive live storytelling series staged across cultural landmarks including the New York Transit Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the historic tall ship Wavertree. I also design and lead site-specific walking tours exploring coastal ecology, food history, and neighborhood evolution, often with partners at Climate Week NYC and the Natural Areas Conservancy.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING MEDIA
Through my independent production studio, Double or Nothing Media, I develop ventures across media, ecology, and public history:
Digital Products & Strategy: Architecting scalable digital platforms, streaming experiences, and operational models for mission-driven institutions.
Environmental Reporting & Publications: Delivering long-form reporting, books, and newsletters grounded in climate resilience and regenerative design.
Site-Specific Live Storytelling: Producing immersive live shows and educational walking tours that engage public audiences in community history.
CONNECT
Website & Production Hub: doubleornothingmedia.com and christaavampato.com
Newsletter: Togetherhood on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/newsletters/togetherhood-7273771832221089792/
Instagram & Threads: @christarosenyc
Emerson Page Novels: emersonpagebook.wordpress.com/
View all posts by Christa Avampato
“Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” ~ A. A. Milne
