I think that Spanish is a good first foreign language because it is so easy. Studying Spanish first will make it easier to study French or Italian or vice versa. However, most high schools only offer up to 4 years of a language so they will likely make a switch at some point. For my DD, she will take 4 years of French because she wants to work in art and design and has expressed an interest in living in France at some point. Personally, I favor French and Italian for the cultural and literary aspects.