Ken explains how the accumulation of everything we have ever experienced or learned, for better or worse, shapes us into the person we are. He proposes that if we were to “Unlearn” that which was destructive to our growth, we could learn to be more self-reflective and critical of our own beliefs. Dr. Spring, is an Associate Professor of Sociology. He has been an active member of the Belmont community since 2002. He holds an M.A. in Sociology with a focus on community development from the University of Toledo and a Ph.D. in Sociology with a focus in social and cultural theory from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Spring was the recipient of the Harold Love Community Service award from the Tennessee Governor’s office and Tennessee Department of Higher Education for his role in creating the YMCA Literacy Program in Middle Tennessee. His current research focuses on the relationship music in identity formation within popular culture. In addition to his community service and research, Dr. Spring has been interviewed by more than 20 local and national news publications and has appeared in several documentaries discussing various aspects of culture which have aired internationally on Bravo!, Current TV, and nationally on PBS. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx