anyone else shocked by how student loans actually work?

I signed up for loans thinking it was just "future me's problem" — turns out it's a trap. Interest piles up like a snowball rolling downhill, and suddenly you're paying twice what you borrowed. The worst part? No one explains how compound interest sneaks up on you until it's too late.

I'm 3 years out of school and my balance barely budged despite paying every month. Turns out most of my payment just covered the interest. Anyone else dealing with this nightmare? What even are the actual solutions here?