Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2026
Document Type
Project Abstract (696 or 796 registration)
Degree Name
Master of Science in Counseling
Department
Graduate Studies
Committee Chair
Jessica Brown
Abstract
Abstract
These pages very briefly summarize 23 years of my life, my development, and my experiences using an eclectic array of topics, including but not limited to, my past and present social influences (family, friends, romantic relationship), mental and physical health, strengths and weaknesses, cultural influences, and assessments. The intent of this project was to gain a deeper understanding of who I am and what makes me the person I am today with the secondary goal of bolstering my ability to be an effective counselor. I feel that this intent was achieved, because in writing this, I was able to identify several themes present throughout multiple areas of my life, and this improved self-understanding has made me more comfortable with giving myself grace. Through reflection, I determined that my early experiences very directly influenced the counseling theories I find myself drawn to, especially CBT, systems theory, and attachment theory. Interviewing a few of my loved ones for this project also helped me gain more insight into how I am perceived by those around me, which was both somewhat humbling and encouraging. Additionally, two personality assessments taken for the sake of this paper were quite accurate to how my loved ones view me. This project was fulfilling and I feel it will allow me to be a better counselor for my clients, and it makes me want to continue to actively reflect and explore my own identity and self.
Keywords: personal development, professional development, introspection, counselor, relationships, reflection
Recommended Citation
Anderson, Lydia Mae, "The Life of a Walking Oxymoron: An Analysis of a Cynical Optimist" (2026). Dissertations, Theses, and Projects. 1107.
https://red.mnstate.edu/thesis/1107