Gap Year

Why is it that taking a gap year in Europe is expected but taking a gap year in the U.S. is not nearly as common and is even questioned or understated. Kids have been going to school for 12 years straight and now they are expected to leap into the most important 4 years of their education with no break. I'm not encouraging gap years where kids stay at home and get a job at a local deli and live at home for a year or a semester.  I am talking about a gap year where you go for a year and experience something you will never get the opportunity to experience, whether it's traveling, living in another country, or even getting an internship or job experience at a foundation or company. My friend Ian is currently taking a year off and working for Stanford which has been an awesome experience for him, ad has made him ant to go to college that much more after this year. After high school my mom did a foreign exchange where she lived in Italy for a year with a family, going to school, and working.  I'm at a point where I personally am not that excited for college or rushing into the next four years. Gap years give one the chance and opportunity to recharge and gather themselves before they rush into the next 4 most important years that will set them up for their life. So many kids these days rush into college to be apart of a frat or sorority and to get away from their parents but aren't going to college for the right reasons. It isn't that uncommon for kids to come home after the first year or even the first semester because they couldn't handle it.  In America I feel like kids are so scared to break away from the social norms so they end up going with the flow of the other millions of students.