Rick grew up one of 12 children of migrant workers, in a small town in New Mexico, and was one of the first in his family to go to college – not because he had a particular drive to achieve, but because he simply liked school. But more important than his academic success, and his tremendous skill as a drug and alcohol counselor, has been the way he continuously embodies the most profound and simple lessons taught by his parents – be a good worker and a good helper.