I took a year off after HS and before college as I did NOT want to go directly to college.
I had some REALLY crappy jobs (union tuna cannery job is still the worst job ever), and one good job. I was ready for college when the next fall came around...
It was good for ME as I KNEW I needed to take some time. I’ve always been different...
I took a gap year too. Having graduated from high school at 16, I worked (at McDonald’s) and saved a few thousand. Then I spent the summer of 1973 in Europe, on my own, and it was one of the high points of my life.