Papa Hemmy, I am from a non-military family, so I had quite a few misconceptions about the academy, as well as the military as a whole.
I had some culture shock during basic, and it took a surprising amount of time to adjust. I thought that I would go into basic calm and confident, and I would use the qualities that I had fostered during high school to push through. Oh boy, was I wrong. I-day was the longest day of my life, and basic was the longest month or so - I was out of my comfort zone within an hour and I had some of the lowest points of my life within a week. Instead of trying to beat the system, let the system change you. Learn whatever positive lesson there is from your mistakes and then forget about them.
Another misconception I had about basic was that you go through it essentially alone. You might go into it alone, but by the end you have some of your closest friends to lean on, and they're all going through the exact same hardships as you. The trust and camaraderie make the tough times a lot more bearable.
The next unexpected thing was how many freedoms are reserved until after recognition. I thought I was home free after surviving basic, but that is certainly not the case. You're still running the strips, greeting all upperclassmen, at attention in the halls, going to minutes, memorizing knowledge, etc. But all of the bs leading up to being recognized makes the additional privileges so much more sweet afterward.
On a more positive note,
When I got to the academy, I thought I would have some good times over the next four years, and some hard times, and it would all be worth it for the reward after graduation. I could not have been more wrong. The rewards here are monthly, weekly, daily. I've seen growth in myself in only nine months that I could not have come close to predicting. All of the trials you endure at this place are what makes it amazing. How often I'm pushed out of my comfort zone, whether I like it or not, is what has made me a better person. I've become more confident, social, well-spoken, studious, responsible, ... , the list goes on and on. This place isn't about the light at the end of the tunnel, it's about the little lessons you learn every day.
Hopefully I answered your question to some extent haha.