It was true. I chose classes in high school, not according to what I was necessarily interested in, but what classes I was most likely to see my friends in. Band was like that. Sure, sometimes I enjoyed the concert music. But mostly it was one big social affair. Physics was the same way. I had no interest in the air speed velocity of an African swallow. My friends were taking it, and it was the next step up in this slew of science classes (right after Chemistry). It was either Physics or AP Biology, where they disected a cat through part of the semester. I had no interest in disection. So it was in my interest to take Physics. And by some strange phenomenon I got the Physics award for having the highest grade in physics during that particular class period. Wow. Never knew I had that in me. And I’ve probably forgotten everything there is to know in that field.
In high school smart people took French. Practical people took Spanish. “I’ll have more of an opportunity to use it,” they thought as they were making out their upcoming schedule with the school counselor. Yep, they were right. I’ve used Spanish way more than French ever was used and ever will be used. Apart from a quick business trip to Ottawa, Canada, there was no reason to use my French. Besides, no one ever really needs anything from a French person anyways. I was influenced to take French because my sister took French. She loved her teacher. He had a doctorate. Should have been teaching at the community college instead of a public high school.
I believe I know more Spanish than French. It was crash course in Spanish during my trip to El Salvador. Nice language. Somewhat easy to learn. I guess.
Practical classes to take. Say….Economics and Typing…were where you’d be less likely to find friends. I took both. Both were dull classes. I am glad that I took typing, because I’m still using it today.