HOUSTON, TX – For most of his adult life, Birthon built his career around hard work, precision and physical endurance.
A U.S. Army veteran who served from 1976 to 1979, Birthon left the military with an honorable discharge and went on to become a millwright. For decades, he worked in a role that required strength, stamina and long hours, the kind of work that kept him busy and proud.
But as the years passed, the job became more than just demanding. It became unsustainable.
Birthon reached a point where continuing as a millwright was simply too hard on his body. The decision to step away from a long-term career was not easy, and retirement was not what he wanted. He still had goals, and he still wanted to work.
That is when Birthon decided to chase a dream he had carried for years: becoming a dental assistant.
He contacted Volunteers of America Texas and enrolled in the organization’s Hire-Up program, a workforce development initiative designed to help low-income individuals build skills and transition into high-wage, high-growth careers. Hire-Up combines industry-recognized training with workforce supports, financial empowerment coaching and wraparound assistance that helps participants and their families overcome barriers that might otherwise derail progress.
For Birthon, the support provided more than a pathway, it provided stability and structure at a critical time.
Birthon recently earned his dental assistant certification.
Now, he is completing an externship at a local dentist’s office, gaining real-world experience and building confidence in a field he once only imagined entering. The work is new, but the pride is familiar, and it comes with the satisfaction of proving to himself that starting over does not mean starting from scratch.
Birthon said he is grateful for the support provided through Volunteers of America Texas and the Hire-Up program, which helped him transition into a new career at a time when many people would have stopped trying.
His journey is a reminder that goals do not come with an age limit, and that with dedication and perseverance, it is possible to pursue a new future at any stage of life.