Samantha Baker

Grew Up… in a large family. Being fifteen was hard enough; hopefully age sixteen will bring the changes she expects. So far though, Sam is underwhelmed: “I look exactly the same as I have since summer: utterly forgettable.”

Living… through “the single worst day of [her] entire life.” In the midst of the chaos of her older sister’s wedding to an “oily bohunk,” Sam’s family has forgotten her sixteenth birthday. And, to top it all off, she’s set herself up for a huge embarrassment after a note containing information on her crush, the dreamy Jake Ryan, finds its way into his hands.

Profession… high school student. Sam is being forced to spend time with her grandparents’ geeky exchange student Long Duk Dong. The bizarre and awkward “Donger” ends up having more luck at the senior dance than Sam. As she puts it, “Donger’s here for five hours, and he’s got somebody. I live here my whole life and I’m like a disease!”

Relationship Status… very much single. Sam is saving herself for the handsome Jake Ryan, who gives her very little attention. Instead, she is constantly being pestered by a freshman geek, a pasty boy named “Farmer Ted.”

Challenge… finding a way to make her sweet sixteen memorable. Sam is all alone on her special day, and it’s getting her down.

Personality… confused, anxious, and full of adolescent angst. Sam feels like no one in her quiet, suburban town can understand her. Sixteen is a difficult age for a girl. As she puts it, “When you don’t have anything, you don’t have anything to lose, right?”