Hi,
I’m in Year 9, and we are approaching the deadline to submit our GCSE options. Apart from the compulsory maths/English/triple science, I initially picked Latin, history, French and Classical Greek.
It’s worth mentioning that I do enjoy Latin, but ultimately my interests and talents lie with the humanities and the only reason I haven’t picked Philosophy and Ethics (Religious Studies) was because my mum (very atheist) strongly disapproves of it.
I’m not religious myself, but the course is still very interesting and extends to different branches of philosophy, also including religious attitudes to issues like abortion, war, terrorism, marriage etc.
This is something I’d be very interested in studying, and I really regret dropping the subject in year 8 (once more because of my mum’s attitude towards it).
Recently I’ve realised that I would be much happier and more confident taking philosophy/RS instead of Latin, and reached out to my Head of Year.
He said it was fine for me to take it provided I have a reason (I did) and my parents send an email consenting (they did not). Instead, we had an argument and my parents refused to agree to it.
I’m tired of constantly choosing subjects to please them and I’m not backing down from my options now, but I just don’t know how to approach this now. I know my parents (mum especially) are very supportive in all my other subjects and hobbies, but only if they approve of them.
I don’t know if I should involve my form tutor, or try to talk this through yet again with my parents (it’ll probably just end in another fight.)
If anyone has ever been in a similar situation, I’d really appreciate any advice!
Thank you