STOCKTON – It’s tough living life with a secret.

Some people go through their daily routine whether it’s going to work or school while not having the basic literacy skills of reading and writing.

“My experience has been that they were shy or well-behaved as children – they didn’t cause problems and, as a result, were pushed through the school system,” said Dawn Renn.

She’s one of about 45 tutors for the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library Adult Literacy Program, according to Suzy Daveluy, librarian in literacy, outreach and programming.

“Dawn is without a doubt a library hero,” Daveluy said.

Since 1985, the Adult Literacy Program has provided 1-on-1 tutoring done by volunteers from the community. Renn, who lives in Lathrop with Gregory, her husband of 29 years, found out about this program via local newsletter.

“It started off as a six-month commitment,” she said.

That was 3 ½ years ago. Renn met with Oswaldo Vera from the SJC Public Library, discussing her goals and objectives with Vera in order to find the right fit with a learner during the interviewing process.

Her selection as volunteer tutor included being fingerprinted, with the library picking up the tab.

For learners, the program is free and requires no fingerprinting but, rather, the courage to acknowledge their reading and writing deficiencies.

“It takes a lot of courage for any person to come out and say that her or she can’t read or write,” said Renn.

The 1-on-1 sessions also take a six-month commitment from both parties. Those seeking help in trying to overcome their deficiencies have reasons that vary.

“They may want to learn the letters of the alphabets,” she added. “They may want to better themselves in order to take classes at Delta College.

“They may be looking to take a test necessary for work or to get work. They may be looking just to read to their child.”

Whatever the reason, Renn can certainly empathize.

 “My secret is that I dropped out of high school,” she said. “I was 15 and was swayed by personal circumstances.”

Renn, who grew up in Canada, guarded that secret over the years. She would walk out of the room during get-togethers any time the discussion turned to education.

Yet she was still able to educate her children. They not only excelled in education but earned their college degrees.

At 32, Renn had a near-perfect score in the high school equivalency testing. But she wanted more than a GED.

“I wanted an actual high school diploma,” Renn said.

For that, she attended Elliott Education Center in Modesto for a year. At 33, Renn not only fulfilled her requirements but was asked to speak at the commencement ceremony. “I had to overcome my fear of public speaking,” she said.

Looking back, those were proud moments in her life.

She finds that same satisfaction when one of her learners finds success in achieving their goals.

“I can’t fix the world but I can take care of my little corner of it,” said Renn, who meets regularly with her current learner at the Manteca Branch Library.

For more information, call 209.937.7778, log on to www.ssjcpl.org, or stop by the Literacy Office at the Cesar Chavez Central Library, 605 N. El Dorado St., Stockton.