GCSE Options - History or German?

[stickygotstuck]

DD is chosing her options and can't make up her mind between History and German.

Apart from Maths, Science and English, she's doing RSPE, Music, French & German. But she's considering swapping one of the languages for History.

Trouble is, she really likes French but I think German will be more useful in the long run (thinking really far ahead, if she wants to work in Europe eventually!)
In her place, I'd do German and History. But I don't want to influence her too much because she loves French, and prefers it to German.

The annoying thing is, initially Music was just her 'reserve' choice but now she's firmly decided on it, so either German/French or History will need to be bumped off the list. She already plays two instruments and working with groups should be good for her personal development - if hard (has ASC, so not a 'fun' subject as such IYSWIM).

Any opinions on what would be best? Workload, prospects, difficulty, usefulness of specific languages... anything you can tell me would help. She's going mad & driving us mad trying to decide!

Chiasmi, thank you for your kind words.

I like your diversion technique, and if it works for your DS that's all that matters. It wouldn't work with DD because the moment we suggest something, that's when she refuses to even consider it. It's quite something (probably PDA, not helped by teenagehood). But for some reason she seems to be listening a bit more with the GCSE options. I guess she is growing up.

For what it's worth, I think you are doing the right thing for your son. At the end of the day, we can only do our best based on the knowledge we have at the time. You know him best, who better placed than you to advise?

I'm probably doing the opposite - pushing a bit too hard - although I consciously try not to. DD was diagnosed very late, and we went/are going through a period of almost mourning, I guess. She was top of the class, blah, blah, until secondary school in the pandemin, then burnout struck. She couldn't cope with physically being in school - cue school refusal, anxietly through the roof, low mood, the works. She felt disappointed in herself. After that I think we became a bit overprotective, but after a while she became angry that she was being patronised and treated 'differently'. She seems to be turning a corner, which we are thankful and hopeful for, but her expectations (and ours) are having to be readjusted. And then readjusted again, and again later on. It is hard but, as you say, none of us have a crystal ball.

Thanks NotQuiteAChateau . It's been therapeutic for me! Good to see your DDs are doing what they love and they have their future mapped-out. We are keen not to add any out of school activities at the moment, and I don't think that DD has a specific aim yet, but hopefully she'll get there and the Goethe is a possibility. Good luck to both your your DDs with their uni plans.

Thank you Xenia. It does seem a shame when they give up something they like and are good at, isn't it? But I guess life is all about choices.
DD is not keen on Economics, which is just as welll because as you say, another curve ball would not be helpful at this stage.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain, very true about films!