1. Sample Essay 4
As humans, we live by emotions, and even the law of our country is influenced by this concept. The law often shows leniency for those who, despite committing serious crimes, surrender themselves. Among these powerful emotions, friendship holds a significant place. It plays a crucial role in both our material and spiritual well-being. At least one true friend exists for everyone.
Initially, friendship impacts our material life, not in terms of tangible goods like parents providing for us, but in the form of financial assistance during hard times. This support helps us overcome life's challenges.
However, when we talk about friendship, we emphasize more the emotional support that friends provide. Friendship means having someone to share your thoughts and feelings with. A friend is always there to listen to both your joys and your sorrows. When you're sad, your friend helps lighten the burden, and the more friends you have, the easier it is to share your sorrow. When you're happy, your joy is multiplied by their happiness.
Friendship is truly invaluable. Life is full of ups and downs—no one can always be happy or sad. So, it's always necessary to have someone to confide in, whether the issue is big or small. Have you ever been scolded by your parents, whether unjustly or not? It can be disheartening, and during such moments, friends are there to comfort and empathize.
Friends act like emotional saviors, helping us overcome our troubles and live more meaningfully. When we experience small joys, like receiving praise from our parents or getting something we desire, we share these moments with our friends. They are not just there for the sad times, but also to protect us.
Even if your friend isn't physically strong, true friends will never let others bully you. While they might not be able to overpower your tormentors, the strength of friendship will prevail. Such experiences only deepen the bond between friends. Many inspiring stories of friendship exist in life.
Some people, despite being neglected by their friends, quietly watch over their friends' lives, and when danger strikes, they are the ones who step forward to protect them. True friends are always willing to stand by you, even when the rest of the world turns its back. They share in your happiness and sadness, and encourage you through life's difficulties.
However, friendships must be sincere—otherwise, they are mere acquaintances. The key difference between friends and mere companions is that a true friend will never abandon you, no matter the situation. They will always stand by you, sharing in both your highs and lows.
From this, we can see that friendship plays an essential role in our emotional well-being. It is crucial for each of us to find a genuine friend to share life's ups and downs, and avoid allowing shallow relationships to fracture this bond.

2. Reference Article 5
In the life of each individual and society in general, friendship plays an incredibly important role. A friend is a true companion who supports and guides us through life's many challenges and obstacles.
We live with one another through emotions, and among these, friendship stands out as a significant one. It impacts both our material and spiritual lives. Every person should have at least one true friend during their lifetime.
Life is full of struggles and setbacks, and we can never truly know what awaits us ahead. There are countless paths we can take in this world, some are full of difficulties, while others are paved with ease and prosperity, leading to a bright future. What we need the most is a friend to walk alongside us, sharing both our joys and sorrows. A friend means we have someone with whom we can open up our hearts.
Our journey through life is like an endless, winding road, and we can never predict what lies ahead. A friend is someone who stands by us, shares both our happy and tough moments, and is there for us when we are weak. A friend is someone who can help us when we err, offering advice and guidance. Most importantly, a friend is the one who remains by our side when others have turned away. Truly, friendship is invaluable—who has never stumbled and wished for a friend's help?
Whether big or small, we all long for someone to talk to. Whenever we are scolded by our parents, whether rightfully or wrongfully, we may feel frustrated and the best way to relieve that is to confide in a friend.
However, especially in today's world, finding a true friend—someone to learn and walk through life with—can be difficult. Many friendships are based on material gains, but these often do not last because they are centered on what one can get from the other, rather than understanding and supporting each other through life's challenges. Thus, it is important to choose our friends wisely, and to learn the best qualities from them.
People say that the purest friendships occur in childhood. As we grow older, we lose the innocence and simplicity of those childhood bonds. However, together we can help each other in our studies and push one another to become better individuals.
A true friendship is one where two people share both joy and sorrow, helping each other through difficulties to grow stronger together. Only then does friendship truly thrive and remain beautiful.

3. Reference Article 6
It has been said that: "A good friend is hard to find, difficult to forget, and impossible to leave behind." This statement evokes deep thoughts about the significance of friendship in life.
One of the most sacred emotions of human beings is friendship. Simply put, friendship is the bond between individuals who share similar interests, ideals, and backgrounds. They share each other's joys and sorrows and help each other through life. While becoming friends is easy, forming a genuine, lasting friendship is not always so simple.
Friendship serves as a powerful emotional support for each individual. Although friends may not always be physically by our side, when we are sad, disappointed, joyful, or happy, they are the ones who truly understand and are ready to share. Sometimes, a friend helps us overcome challenges. A friend who shares tears, laughter, and life stories with us makes us feel less alone and cold.
In the journey of life, having a friend beside us can provide valuable advice. As the English proverb goes: "Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are." This is undoubtedly true. Everyone knows the touching friendship of Liu Bing and Yang Li. Liu Bing and Yang Li were close childhood friends. Yang Li came from a poor family, while Liu Bing was wealthy, often inviting his friend to share meals and study together. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, their bond was strong. Yang Li worked hard to study, while Liu Bing, relying on his family's wealth, became lazy and played. Eventually, Yang Li passed his exams, but Liu Bing failed and became disheartened, spending his time on frivolous pursuits. As his wealth dwindled, he turned to Yang Li for help but was met with cold treatment. This caused Liu Bing to feel angry, but later, after receiving guidance from an unknown person, he dedicated himself to studying and succeeded. It was only when he returned home victorious and met Yang Li that he realized his friend, who had sent a servant disguised as his wife to help him, was the one who had supported him all along. This beautiful story exemplifies the importance of having a good friend by your side, someone who not only shares your happiness but also helps you grow stronger.
On the other hand, there are friends who are unworthy of this trust. In the story “The Earth Returned to Heaven,” the character Dià, who knew he was not as intelligent as his brother Thiên, worked hard to earn money to support Thiên’s education. However, when Thiên returned home successful, he pretended not to recognize Dià and even ordered him to be chased away. Only after receiving divine intervention did Dià recover his wealth, teaching Thiên a harsh lesson about betrayal. A true friend should never forget their roots.
For a student about to graduate, I feel incredibly fortunate to have true friends who help and encourage me in my studies. We have promised to support each other and achieve great results in the upcoming exams, and meet again at the university gates.
Friendship is priceless – cherish and protect those genuine friends. As La Fontaine, the famous French poet, once said: “True love is rare, but true friendship is even rarer.”

4. Reference Article 7
There is a Russian proverb that says: "The battlefield tests the courage of the brave. Anger tests the wisdom of the wise. Hardship tests true friends." It is clear that friendship plays an essential role in every person's life.
Friendship is the connection between people who share common interests, ideals, and circumstances. They share their joys and sorrows, helping each other through life. A true friendship is one that is pure, selfless, and enduring. No one can live in isolation forever, and everyone needs a friend to share love and experiences with. Without friends, life becomes dull. There is no one to hang out with, talk to, or eat with. Friends are not just companions for studying or working, but also for having fun and exploring life. They provide the warmth of affection, always ready to offer support, encouragement, and help during the toughest moments. When you're lost, a true friend will offer sincere advice.
Friendships can begin for many reasons, but to endure and become lifelong bonds, they require understanding and shared experiences. The bond between Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei in the historical novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* has captured the admiration of readers who cherish Chinese literature. The friendship between Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, or the enduring companionship between Liu Bing and Yang Li, also inspires deep respect.
A true friendship is founded on empathy and mutual understanding. True friends have the ability to guide us toward better things. To nurture a friendship, both must endure challenges and work together. Through these trials, a friend may help us, offer guidance, or even teach us life lessons. Some friends may abandon us or cause harm. It is through these experiences that we learn who our real friends are.
For students like us, friendship is a deeply sacred bond. We study together, play together, and share both the joys and sorrows of life. When the time comes to leave our beloved school, we will always remember each other fondly for the good times we shared.
Karl Marx once stated: "True friendship is a priceless gem." Therefore, we must cherish friendship – a vital part of life.

5. Reference Article 8
Our ancestors once said:
"Friendship is the bond of kinship
In times of hardship, we stand by each other."
No one can live without friends. Friendship is one of the most beautiful and pure emotions we experience. As author Thomas Hughes once said: "Blessed is the person who can make friends, for it is one of God's greatest gifts." Indeed, friendship has an immense impact on our lives.
From birth to adulthood, no one is without friends. Friendship is something simple and close, not distant or complicated like other emotions. Friendship is a social bond that refers to relationships between people who share similar thoughts, feelings, viewpoints, or circumstances. It is a connection where people share, empathize, and support one another in their journey. Friends can be lifelong companions, childhood friends, classmates, comrades, or allies in a shared struggle. A friend is someone who shares your interests, your ideals, and your worldview. They are the ones who offer you a shoulder to cry on, a support system when you’re at your lowest, a light in times of darkness, and someone who will stay by your side no matter how life changes, through both struggles and joys.
But why do we need friends? Perhaps it's because they are the ones who are always there for us, as the saying goes: "At home, we rely on family, but on the streets, we rely on friends." That's why having friends is so important. If you don't have friends, it's a great loss in life. Having friends is one of the greatest joys in life, as author A. Manzoni once said: "One of life's greatest happinesses is friendship, and one of the joys of friendship is having someone to confide in." Friendship comes to us naturally because it stems from the heart of every person.
Throughout history, we’ve seen many beautiful friendships. For example, the friendship between Liu Bing and Yang Li from ancient times. When Yang Li was a poor scholar, Liu Bing not only didn't criticize him but also befriended him and provided opportunities for Yang Li to study. Later, when Yang Li achieved success, Liu Bing had become a destitute beggar. Remembering their past bond, Yang Li sent his wife to help and encourage Liu Bing to study. Eventually, Liu Bing succeeded and became a government official. Or the profound and admirable friendship between two great political figures, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Their friendship began from a shared vision and goals. Throughout their research and work, they frequently wrote letters to one another, and they were overjoyed when they reunited. There was even a time when Engels fell ill, and Marx dedicated a lot of time and energy to finding a cure for his friend's illness. This is what true and noble friendship looks like.
However, there are also false friendships based on deceit and exploitation. Such friendships are never everlasting. True friendship is built on sincere emotions, and without those, it cannot last. The sparkling "crystal" of friendship loses its shine and becomes dull and dark. A deceitful friendship can tarnish a person's character and ethics. It can make the very concept of "friendship" lose its sanctity and value. Such a friendship will bring sadness and disappointment to all involved. Not only do you hurt others, but you also end up hurting yourself due to your actions. Thus, we must avoid such false friendships.
Friendship is a beautiful experience that shapes each of our lives. It helps us become better people. Through friendship, we grow stronger, more resilient, and our lives gain meaning, as Democritus once said: "He who does not have a true friend is not worthy of life."

6. Reference Article 9
In human emotional life, there are many sacred bonds such as the bond between parents and children, teacher and student, and friends. The need for friendship is essential and important, which is why there are numerous touching folk songs and proverbs on this subject:
"Do you remember me when you return?"
"I remember you as the moon remembers the sky."
or:
The moon rises above the mountain, and the moon
Our bond remains steadfast and true, always.
or:
"Friendship is the bond of mutual understanding,
To ensure harmony, loyalty should always be present."
or:
"The bird that strays from its flock feels lonely,
Just like friends separated, always seeking to reunite."
There are many legendary friendships in literature, such as the friendship between Liu Bing and Yang Li, Ba Na and Chung Tu Ki, or Nguyen Khuyen and Duong Khue. In our everyday lives, we also encounter many beautiful friendships.
So, what defines a beautiful friendship? In my view, it begins with sincere, pure, selfless affection, rooted in trust between close friends. Friendships often start based on emotional rather than logical connections. Among many friends at school, we naturally gravitate towards a few people with whom we feel a genuine connection, understanding, and shared interests, regardless of their circumstances.
A pure friendship does not entertain petty calculations, selfish motives, or jealousy. True friends are those who understand, empathize, and are willing to share both joys and sorrows. As the saying goes:
"When you're happy, they cheer with you,
But when you're in trouble, they're nowhere to be found,
Such people are not worthy of being called friends."
Close friends may easily overlook each other's faults, but this can be a mistake. Indulging or covering for negative behavior only leads friends down a destructive path. At the same time, it is important to forgive each other's mistakes. Voltaire once said, "If the first rule of friendship is to nurture it, the second is to be generous when the first rule falters." We should never condone wrongdoings, but sometimes, we need to be forgiving, offering advice and guidance with compassion. Helping a friend correct their mistakes is also helping ourselves, ensuring we stay on the right path to becoming better individuals.
A key factor in maintaining a lasting friendship is trust. Trusting your friend is akin to trusting yourself—always seeing the best in each other. Only through this trust can friends become a reliable support system throughout life.
As the proverb says: "Learning from a teacher cannot compare to learning from a friend," emphasizing the invaluable role of friends not only in studies but also in all aspects of life. A good friend is a role model, guiding us through the challenges of life with wisdom and insight. Life is full of obstacles, and on this long journey, if we have a few like-minded friends by our side, we feel warmth and our strength is multiplied.
For all these reasons, friendship is a priceless gift, a spiritual treasure for those who value and cherish it. Friendship does not come easily; it is the result of a long process of building strong, loyal, and close relationships.
Imagine a life without friends—how dull and lonely it would be! That life would be as gloomy as the earth without sunlight, like a garden without the vibrant colors of blooming flowers, missing the sweet songs of birds in the trees. It would be a life of sadness and emptiness.
Friendship is as essential and precious as this, and we must protect and nurture it forever. For the youth, friendship is even more vital than ever. We must be open, build bonds of friendship, and always remember: Friendship is the greatest happiness each person can experience.

7. Reference Article 1

8. Reference Example 2
I once heard of a bond with no borders, one that transcends age, social status, nationality, gender, race, and language... a bond that brings people closer together, and that is friendship. Life is full of ups and downs, challenges and setbacks, and friendship serves as a source of encouragement and a mental boost to help us rise again. If life were made up of different colors, then friendship would be the brightest, most vibrant ones.
So, what is friendship? Friendship is the relationship between people who share similar thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. They empathize with each other, share, support, and motivate each other to grow. A true friendship must be built on selflessness and understanding, without selfish intentions. It is a bond where people treat each other with sincerity and are willing to sacrifice for each other's well-being. Sometimes, a good friend is one who will correct you and warn you when you're wrong, rather than blindly protecting or condoning wrongdoings. Just like the deep friendships of Nguyễn Khuyến and Dương Khuê, or Lưu Bình and Dương Lễ. On the other hand, a toxic friendship is one based on selfish motives, competition, and using others for personal gain. A bad friend is one who encourages you to walk down the wrong path, leading you to failure.
In our relationships, there are many acquaintances, but true friendship is rare. Nonetheless, we must always seek meaningful friendships because they are crucial in life. The more friends we have, the more connections we create, which helps us integrate into the community and society. More importantly, friendship brings understanding, sharing, and support—things that other forms of love and family relationships may not always offer. A friend is someone you can confide in, share your burdens with, and rely on during tough times.
When we face difficulties and obstacles, a friend is there to encourage us and help us find a way through. As the saying goes, "Friendship doubles joy and shares sorrow." A good friend serves as a mirror for us to learn from, helping us develop better qualities and avoid mistakes. Without friendship, life would be bleak, and we'd have no other relationships beyond family. People would live in isolation, creating distance between one another, making it difficult to support each other. In essence, without friendship, there can be no love, and without love, can family ties truly exist? Therefore, no matter the challenges, we must build and cherish beautiful friendships, keeping these bonds strong. Let's be the kind of good friends that everyone deserves to have.
It can be said that we cannot live without friendship. Friendship is an essential spice in life. If we wish to have great friendships, we must first be good friends ourselves. To cultivate beautiful friendships, we must start by being a good friend to others.
9. Reference Example 3
Throughout life, we meet many people, feeling comfortable when we're with them, and we introduce them as our friends to others.
At some point, we encounter someone who changes our life, even if only slightly. This is someone who is not only there for us during the good times and successes but also stays by our side during our sorrow, crises, or failures, especially when others have abandoned us. This person is what we call a true friend, someone who comes to us when everyone else has walked away.
In life, we meet many people, feel comfortable around them, and present them as our friends. But in reality, they are merely acquaintances. We may invite them to our homes, hang out, and share some experiences, but not everyone among them becomes someone we can truly share our life with.
A friend, in simple terms, is someone we know. However, not everyone we know can be called our friend. When we call someone a friend, it means there is a deep, close relationship, a person who understands and shares our emotions. This is especially true for a true friend, who listens when we face challenges, stays with us in difficult times, and helps us through adversity.
Only a true friend is someone we can truly share our life with. This is a person we cherish, care for, and share both joy and sorrow with. They bring us peace and security because we know they care, and they stand by us when we're facing difficulties or feeling down. They help us avoid mistakes or correct them when we do make them. This is a person who is always by our side, offering their support.
They hold our hand to provide strength and hope. They follow our steps through life, just as we keep an eye on theirs, learning from them. Indeed, it is only a close and sincere friend who comes to us when everyone else has abandoned us. After enduring life's ups and downs, we come to realize that we have many acquaintances but only a few true friends.
When we fall, and the world around us seems dark and empty, a true friend lifts us up, making the world brighter and filling the emptiness within us. A true friend can guide us through life's hardships, holding our hand and assuring us that things will get better.
Life is not always a bed of roses; sometimes we face seemingly insurmountable challenges, failures that may break us. That is when we truly understand the value of friendship.
Along with family and love, true friendship is the solid foundation in life. A true friend is someone who encourages and supports us when we're striving for success, celebrates our happiness, cries with us when we're in sorrow, and reaches out when we're feeling lonely.
If life is harsh, making our dreams and faith struggle through the storms, the shoulder of a true friend is the safe place where we can rest. True friends stand by each other with a deep trust that allows us to share both the beautiful and the difficult moments of life, often with a smile.
There are friends who come into our lives, offering us trust, strength, and support when others turn their backs on us, when fate seems cruel. "A friend is someone who comes to you when everyone else has left." We all wish for such a friend in our lives. So, what should we do to have a friend like that? "The only way to have good friends is to be a sincere friend yourself" (Euripides). As Tô Hữu wrote:
"How can we borrow and not repay?
To live is to give, not just to receive for oneself.”
In any relationship, there must be a balance of giving and receiving. Especially in friendship, as it is a selfless exchange between equals, no one just gives or just takes. We must treat our friends with love and care, just as we do for ourselves.
Help without expecting anything in return, because at some point, we will receive help from them in ways we might never expect. Share without calculating, give without waiting for something back. Show love from the heart, not for selfish gain, so that it is a bond of the heart, not of the mind...
A long-lasting relationship is a lifelong lesson. We must learn to love and care for our friends. We must learn to forgive mistakes and help them avoid repeating them. We must learn to accept others' flaws...
Friendship is sometimes the simple things that life’s chaos makes us forget. It could be an encouraging glance, a comforting hug when we're weak, a shoulder to lean on, or a silent moment to listen to our friend's heart. Friendship has no set form or standard way to express itself. But it always includes small gestures of sincere affection that connect friends with each other.
Having a true friend is difficult, but keeping that friendship is even harder. Hold a handful of sand in your hand. Do you know that the sand in your hand is like your friends? If the grains of sand are too far from your palm, they will slip through the gaps between your fingers. If you grip too tightly, they will fall out even more. Only the grains of sand that are gently held in the center of your hand will remain.
These are the true friends we need—those who will stay with us no matter what happens. But as you can see, these grains of sand are few and can easily slip away if we don't know how to keep them. We must cherish and nurture them with love. They will stay with us and won't slip away. Just like the sand, to keep a friend, you don’t need to hold them too tightly, but rather cherish and respect them with all your heart.
In reality, life has shown that there are many people who come into our lives but are not truly our friends. For example, when you are wealthy and successful, many people will come to you, but are they all your friends? Why are they coming? To ask for favors, to take advantage of you? And when you fall, will they be there for you, or will they walk away, indifferent? That’s why it's said: "A friend is someone who comes to you when everyone else has left."
However, it is also true that there are people who come to you when others leave, but if their intentions are not sincere, if they don't truly wish to help or share, they cannot be considered your friends.
In our lives, many things come and go quickly, as fragile as smoke or as easily broken as a sandcastle in the face of a storm. But only feelings, emotions, are strong enough to withstand life's storms. They are the foundation of joy and happiness. And there is nothing more wonderful than sharing your feelings with someone else and feeling at peace when you call each other friends.

