I should have looked up this thread a while ago. My DS just left the academy after plebe year. Going thru the process of choosing a major in early spring, he realized that his passion is in his academics, not the military. Up till that point he was extremely interested in going Subs and spoke about it often and with passion. As March and April progressed and he considered leaving, he realized he was less and less driven by the military aspects than the academics and realized he didn't want to do whatever job the navy put him in for 5 years. Maybe he didn't like the idea of having no control? While he very much enjoyed the academics and professors at USNA, he wanted more...more time to spend on academics and not on the military stuff. It was a hard decision because he enjoyed those parts too, but in the end he decided to leave. DS is not a talker and never spoke to anyone about his decision except me, who encourage him to talk to professors, company officers, etc. He didn't, and I wasn't surprised. While I was sad he was choosing to leave (we are in this life too, as parents, aren't we?) I had to support his decision - even if I didn't agree with it. He tends to know himself and maybe I was too involved and wanted him there for selfish reasons? Worst part was he didn't have a plan. Which is NOT like him. Luckily he had a few weeks to get his application into Plan B university from the previous year (we had also put down a deposit there last year just in case). But it was the last/latest deadline and we have no idea of his chances of getting a spot. So now its almost July 1 and he still doesn't know if he's in. SO Moral of the story is HAVE A PLAN if you choose to leave. PLEASE. We tried to tell him to stay another semester or year and have a plan to leave, but he didn't.
I should mention he LOVED USNA. Never one negative word. Plebe summer "wasn't so bad" and the academics were just challenging enough. He ended with over a 3.5 gpa and ranked in the top 10% in his company. It was a successful year. So some mids don't leave "because they can't hack it" or the acadmics are too tough or they can't hadle the rules. Some mids just decide this isn't what they want. Nothing bad about USNA or the military OR my son. Just a different path. And while that is hard for me to accept (at this point), I must trust my son that he knows what he wants. He did agree that he will most likely regret this decision at various times in his life, but I have a feeling that won't last long. He knows himself and he thought for months about this decision. He was successful and happy at USNA, so that decision had to be difficult for him. You just never know when something changes and they start to see their future differently.
And OP... it doesn't matter what your reason is for leaving or if anyone agrees with your reason. You know yourself and if you aren't happy at USNA or see a different path, or want different things for yourself, you need to follow that. You won't make a good officer if you aren't happy. Please update us and let us know what you decided! It could be a help to others in your shoes.