Who is Sam in the film, Garden State?

Sam is an unusual girl who Andrew meets when he goes to the doctor to have his headaches checked. After his appointment, Andrew runs into Sam outside and offers to give her a ride home. From this first meeting, Andrew's life begins to be changed by Sam's influence on him.

Although we don't know it at the beginning of the film, Sam has been diagnosed with epilepsy which put an end to some the same things she wanted to do. However, Sam has learned to cope with her disease and lives her life to the fullest. She lives with her mother and a young man they supported from Africa. Sam has embraced an odd sort of life, but her zest for living rubs on everyone she meets, including Andrew.