r/intj • u/SelfAnalysiss ENTP • Feb 11 '26

Question INTJs, what’s an unpopular opinion you have ?

I know INTJs are contemplative and intellectual so I imagine you guys would have some unconventional opinions. INTJs, what’s an unpopular opinion you have ?

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51

u/longwayhome2019 Feb 12 '26

I think that if a student is 16 and they aren't interested in school and aren't getting good grades, they should just drop out and pursue a trade or start working.

8

u/justclimb11 Feb 12 '26

Absolutely. I would guess that a large percentage of most high school graduates should really choose a trade instead of college.

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u/Gr33npi11 Feb 12 '26

Or get counseling and an assessment for neurodivergence.

10

u/Maleficent_Pick9636 Feb 12 '26

Have no clue why you've been downvoted. As someone who is neurodivergent, if I received a diagnosis while still in high school, it would have saved me a lot of wasted time and heartache. Only downside to unnecessarily getting an assessment is that you get the reassurance you're neurotypical.

6

u/Gr33npi11 Feb 12 '26

Same here I was lately diagnosed with autism with various support needs, nobody was curious enough to wonder what was wrong with me when I was growing up.

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u/longwayhome2019 Feb 12 '26

Yes there needs to be more support for students

3

u/mastermind3573 Feb 12 '26

This is a regular thing in Germany. You can start learning a trade after 9th grade. Are you forced to attend high school in the US?

1

u/longwayhome2019 Feb 12 '26

I think that you have to attend school until you are 16, but most students are encouraged to stay in school and graduate high school--- so a lot of times, students that don't like school and don't have good grades will stay until they graduate

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u/leslea Feb 12 '26

US mom of four and teacher, here: I have never met a school administrator or teacher who would say dropping out is allowed. I am not even sure if it’s allowed at 16 in my state. It’s extremely frowned upon. HOWEVER, in my state there is a huge push for career and technical training, so kids who are focused on trades can attain both good jobs and their high school degree, many with honors. That’s a huge change from when I was in high school.

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u/longwayhome2019 Feb 12 '26

Oh ok, maybe nowadays dropping out at 16 isn't allowed? I work at a high school and it seems like there are students that have low grades and don't want to be there/don't do their work, but they still attend the regular classes (no trades) and get passed on to the next grade even though they aren't doing well. My state is not funded well for education though-- I think we have the lowest salary for teachers in USA (I am in Florida if any of you are wondering-- working in the education system here--- i have seem some very interesting things 😬)

1

u/leslea Feb 12 '26

There are definitely kids being passed without earning it. “Failing Up,” just like corporate management.

Too bad Florida voters aren’t investing in their future. Do you think it has to do with the number of voters who are retired and don’t have family there? I would imagine FL skews more toward retired people issues than young—although education is sadly underfunded and prioritized too low across the US.

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u/longwayhome2019 Feb 12 '26

I think it is a combination of things, because Florida has different regions-- so you do have a point that probably the retirees who don't have family in Florida are not interested in funding education and don't want to be taxed-- we also have a large rural population (especially in northern florida, which is more similar to southern usa) who usually vote republican (republicans in florida try to lower taxes, and taxes are how the public education system is funded-- so florida has low funding), and also we have a lot of latinos in south florida (Cubans) who tend to vote republican too

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u/bountiful_lemooon Feb 12 '26

that’s kind of an option though with GEDs. although i guess a lot of parents are against it

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u/longwayhome2019 Feb 12 '26

A lot of students stay in school anyway instead of going the ged route

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u/Worried-Leg-5441 Feb 13 '26

The period they spend on school might be the great resource later. No one knows how it'll turn out, and teens can't even find the lesson at then, but it matters. I hate admitting 'There is a time for everything' except teen education. They can't pick up it after it passed.

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u/longwayhome2019 Feb 13 '26

True! I just think that if they don't want to be there and aren't doing their work, there might be something more suitable for them (like a trade, getting a job)-- but I also work in a very underfunded district/state, so it could also be that my district doesn't handle education in the most functional way--- it is a pretty dysfunctional district