The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

25.9 - Dee's Task: It's Graduation Time…

June 9 marks my graduation from a 10 month in-residence Masters program. Its crazy how fast the time went, the friendships that I made and the fun classes I got to take – so my task is based on this.

For this task, you will choose either Option A, B, C and read book 1 AND book 2 from that option. Alternately, you may read a book that exceeds 500pgs and that fits both book 1 AND book 2 for your chosen option.

Option A – The Degree and my Cohort
Book 1 – The ultimate degree that is being conferred on us is a Masters in Government Information Leadership.
Read a book with all the words in the title starting with letters found in GOVERNMENT INFORMATION LEADERSHIP. Letters may be used as often as they are found. The title must have at least 3 words.

Book 2 – about 1/3 of my class is made up of international military officers – during the year, they provided valuable insights (and shenangians) into how their countries operate.
Read a book set at least 75% in one of the following countries: Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Israel, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Taiwan (for the purpose of this task Taiwan is being counted as a separate country from China), Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates. REQUIRED. Specify the country. If it is not obvious from the GR description or metadata, provide a reference to verify the setting.

Option B – The Capstone
Book 1 - The final assignment of the program is the Independent Student Research Paper (or ISRP) – it consumed pretty much all our time when we aren’t in class.
Read a book where all the letters ISRP appear in the Authors name. Books with Multiple authors work if ALL authors fit the criteria.

Book 2 - In true Dee fashion I was changing my topic for this paper up until the last minute…I think at final count I had 4, no 5, no 6 topic changes before finishing it.
Read a book that is 4, 5, or 6 in a series

Option C – the Electives
In addition to the experience with the international students, the best part of the program was all the different electives that we could take. I honestly had a hard time making a decision (and I took more than required both semesters because I couldn't decide). But by far my 2 favorites were Women, Peace and Security (Fall) and Forecasting, Foresight and Strategic Insight (spring)
Book 1 - Women, Peace and Security looked at how national and strategic objectives across the globe can be improved by the integration of women (I know it sounds trite, but they are often not consulted until too late).
Read a book found on the first 15 pages of the following shelf:
Gender Books REQUIRED: state what page number the book was found on

Book 2 - Forecasting and foresight studied how individuals can get better at predicting significant geopolitical events by looking for signals in historical data. The theory spurred an Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity project several years ago which has now transitioned over to the Good Judgement Open (GJOpen).

Read a book where all the letters IARPA can be found in the title, NOT subtitle

optional – check out your forecasting skills on GJOpen (https://www.gjopen.com/) – it's free to set up an account

congrats you graduated

whoops, you failed

This thread is now open.

Incredible that you completed the SRC challenge while also working on this degree! Congratulations.

Congratulations Dee! A Masters degree, a milestone birthday AND finishing the spring challenge?? I have no idea how you did it. The degree sounds interesting based on what you mentioned in the tasks.

Brooke wrote: "Congratulations Dee! A Masters degree, a milestone birthday AND finishing the spring challenge?? I have no idea how you did it. The degree sounds interesting based on what you mentioned in the tasks."

thanks Brooke i'm not sure how i did it either...aside from the fact that after I turned in that last paper i literally did nothing for a week and a half but read

Congratulations, Dee, on finishing your degree! What a milestone! Birthday and all!!!

Congratulations Dee!!! Although you were working hard on that paper, sometimes you needed that break to clear your mind before returning to it which sometimes give you new insight/ideas. Time for you to relax and enjoy your leisure guilty pleasure books : )

First off, Congratulations, such a huge accomplishment!

For option C-could you please verify that She Who Became the Sun, currently on page 13 of the Gender List. It could move before I finish the book. Thanks

Joanne wrote: "First off, Congratulations, such a huge accomplishment!

For option C-could you please verify that She Who Became the Sun, currently on page 13 of the Gender List. It could move bef..."

You’re good