Jake Sisko is your typical "army brat" who doesn't remember life on Earth, has been aboard four different starships, and stationed on two planets.

This transient life style has taught him how to scope out a new terrain and assimilate quickly. At the same time he has an inner fear of forming new friendships because he loses them so easily. He dreams of going to live on Earth. He collects holodeck programs of various places on Earth that he uses to try to fulfill his fantasy.

Deep inside he knows that his mom would still be alive if they did not live in space, and he has a suppressed bitterness about it.

His father promised there would be other kids on the station; as it turns out there are only a handful of various alien species. Only one is his age, Nog, a Ferengi teenage boy who is a bad influence. Jake is close with his dad; they are buddies.

An alternate adult Jake saved his father's life ("The Visitor").

The boy has no technical expertise at all. He struggles with his homework but is dedicated to doing his best. He wants to become a writer. His first novel is Anselem ("The Muse").