Rafael Cantu started making unhealthy decisions at a young age. "I was a rebel. I didn't care about anyone but myself."
For much of his youth, Rafael performed well in school and in sports. He felt loved and accepted by his mom, a single mother who worked hard to provide for her three sons in an urban area near Dallas.
"She was the only one that was always there, no matter what," says Rafael.
But Rafael also sought love and acceptance outside the home, and the influences he found weren't always good. He took his first sip of alcohol at age 13 and started running with gangs and fighting. He liked the feeling of acceptance and belonging, no matter the cost or consequences.
