“It is not what is poured into a student that counts but what is planted.” ~ Linda Conway
In most of our interactions, we never really know how we’ve affected another person. Something we say or do can have profound effects on someone else years later, and many times that effect surfaces in unexpected ways. We are all students and teachers. We observe and learn. What we say and do serves as an example for others.
When we are teaching through our words and actions, it’s important to remember that no one observes us and follows along in a rote manner. It’s not the information that’s most important. In our fast-paced world, information changes moment to moment. The system by which we process that information – our thought processes, interpretation, and then what we do with it – is what is under constant reflection by others around us.
By our words and actions, we are planting seeds. Just like a garden, some of those seeds will never germinate. We will never be able to influence some people. However, some of those seeds will sprout and take root when the conditions are right, when the person who observes us is ready to hear and act upon the lessons we teach. And it’s not always readily apparent who belongs to which group. The answers may surprise you.
There’s only one way to handle this ambiguity. Approach every situation, every opportunity, as a seed. Give it your best – all of the sunshine, water, and nutrients you can muster. Give it your love. Despite all of your doting, some of those seeds will remain dormant. But I promise you that some of them will blossom. Some of them will bring you an unimaginable amount of joy. So much so that they will make you grateful beyond measure.
Once you see that growth, put your time and attention there. All of it. That is the work of your life – to make a difference wherever and whenever you can. This is the great adventure.
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
“It is not what is poured into a student that counts but what is planted.” ~ Linda Conway
1 thought on “Beautiful: A Garden of Opportunity”