The theme of Contributing to Something Greater runs deep in the events of Slacker as the Positive Action Group makes an impact on both its members and the community they serve. Through the P.A.G.’s impact on Sycamore, the idea that personal fulfillment can result from contributing to something greater develops.

In Chapter 13, Cameron Boxer observes how one of his best friends, Chuck Kinsey, has completely embraced the P.A.G.’s mission during their first project and “was treating today like it was a real thing” (94) Chuck describes how being a pagger was “a higher purpose—a calling, almost”; He comes to understand that helping people “was good for other people, but it was even better for the guy doing the helping” (137-38).

Pavel Dysan also finds fulfillment in the P.A.G. In Chapter 17, after spending a day cleaning up a local park with the rest of the organization, Pavel takes note of the difference they’ve made and expresses, “I never realized what a dump it was until I saw it all cleaned up. We did that. It wouldn’t have happened without us” (121). Pavel and Chuck go from enjoying self-serving

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now