Back in February I posted a blog post titled, “Who is your Samwise?”. During that time a group of seniors participating in a speech/creative writing class spent some time answering this question. I share those unedited responses with permission from their instructor.

“I don’t really have a Samwise. I have multiple friends that help me with different things. Some are very close; but some, not so much. I love my friends and need them to get through life, either to just have fun or to figure things out that I do not understand. I need people in my life, but friends make things so much better. We like being with each other. As the Beatles once said, ‘I get by with a little help from my friends.’” -Matt

“Who is my Samwise? It will have to be my sister because I have a closer relationship with her than with anyone else. I can come to her about anything that has happened in my life, and she would give me the best advice to keep my hopes up, and I do the same for her. What do I hold onto? That would have to be football. I have a passion for that sport. Either it’s me outside playing football with or without my friends or I’m inside watching it on TV because I enjoy it so much. Am I going at it alone? No, I believe no one is going at it alone, because God is always with you.” -Devin

“My response to this is very true. In our lives, God puts people in them for a reason. We never notice it until it is too late for us to say thank you. At some point in our life, we will need someone to talk to – someone to get us through the ups and downs as life goes by. We all have someone; we are never alone, whether it is a physical person or a spiritual person. We all look for a person to hold onto in life, such as parents, grandparents, siblings, or a spouse, because these people help us. They support us and show their love towards us. The person you hold onto is your best friend. You tell them everything, and you can trust them. In your life, God will always have someone by your side. That person will help you get through that chapter of your life. I really liked this blog because it makes you really think whom God has put in your life to help you, and whom you should hold on to. You are never alone; God is always with you.” -Kelsey

“In life, everyone should have one person to count on. No one truly likes to be alone. Being alone only gives people time to think and, most of the time, get depressed. While reading this blog, it really did make me think about things. No one wants to feel like there is no one there for him or her. Everyone wants time alone now and then, but not all the time. So, whom do I have? – my boyfriend. He is truly my best friend. He has been there for me for two years. No one understands me like him. He has been there through the good and the bad in my life, and there has been way more bad than good. He can comfort me and he teaches me so much. I know I am young and things may not always work out, but he is truly the best friend I have ever had. He may not have an answer to everything, but he always listens. I know that when something goes wrong, or even right, I have that one person to turn to. It is a great feeling! Everyone deserves someone like this, and it is not always a significant other. I know it is risky to count on him so much, but I have a secure feeling of never getting hurt. People need this in life; it really makes things so much better. Nothing seems too hard or impossible when you have someone standing behind you the whole way.” -Paige

“My Samwise would have to be my parents. Why? I can talk to them about any and everything. They will always know just the things to say to cheer me up or get me in a good mood. If I am having a bad day, or things just aren’t going my way, my parents are who I go to first. They always give me words of encouragement. Without my parents I would be lost in this world because they pretty much do everything for me. They both mean a lot to me and are the biggest impacts on my life. I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world.” -Lethaniel

“This is a really good blog because it’s true – everyone does need someone to lean on. I have been down several times in my life but, as some people lean on their parents, I don’t. I go and talk to one of my really close friends. The thing that keeps me going from day to day is that I know God has a plan for me, and I know he has a special woman out there that is going to need me to take care of her. I want to live long enough so I can know what it feels like to have kids. Another thing that keeps me going is that I’m afraid of dying. The things in my first paragraph are true, but this is the main thing that keeps me going.” -Dakota

“Of all my friends, I would have to say my ‘Samwise’ would be one of my two older brothers, Andrew. Not only is he my brother, but he is one of my greatest friends. We have been through much together, and we have seen and done nearly the same things in our short lives. We have made our mistakes and we have done our parts. Even with all the wrong we have done, we only look to the future for a great life for our future family. At this moment, I look up to him the most, because even with his mistakes, he turned around and did something great – he is now a Marine. Whenever I feel low, he reminds me why life is worth living. He shows me that with everything lost, something great can be gained. Yet, still knowing, we must not forget what we lost or where we came from. Still, we try our hardest to make it to the top. Knowing we both share our hardships and still cause our own mistakes, we both plan to create a better life for our family.” -Xavier

“This is very true. Just like the blog says, we all need that ‘something’ to lean on, no matter what it may be. Some people tend to go to family members and others go to friends, but some people go to objects. Without something to lean on, we just fall. I know; I have been there. It was not that I didn’t have anyone because, trust me, I did. It was that I did not want help. I thought that I could do it all – alone. However, the fact of the matter is, I couldn’t. I needed that person in my life that I could talk to, trust with everything, and lift me up when I was down. Now, my grandfather is my life support. He always had that special place in my heart, but when I started to open up and talk to him, things stared to get better in my life. It was as a burden had been lifted, and I had help to get through it all. The point that I am making is that it is very important to have that person to lean on, and when you do, it is better.” -Morgan

I want to personally thank everyone in the speech/creative writing class for these great responses!

Having a “Samwise” is having a best friend, its having fellowship with someone. Fellowship is more than just socializing…its doing life together, its praying together, its serving together, its growing and aging together. These are the fibers of fellowship.

So, my question to YOU is, “Who is your Samwise?”