Latin as first (second) language sounds so phenomenally weird to me. How late in school did you start learning? For me it was third grade in primary school, I can still remember that first sheet with pictures of "tree" and "umbrella" as it felt so alien to me for things to suddenly be called differently.

There was a choice for second (third) language in sixth class, I chose Latin there as well (there were only 2 choices, Latin and French). Unfortunately had to change school 2 years later and they only had French, so now I can't speak either. 🥴

English however never was optional (your post make it sound like it was for you, pretty sure no state does it that way though…?). In fact for all I know it's one of the primary classes everywhere in Germany, together with German and math.