Everyone should consider a gap year! It's an opportunity for you to reclaim your life and your learning. You don't need to pay for a program: take advantage of the chance to develop your independence and grow your confidence. To find out if it's right for you, try the questionnaire on Ms. Padron's web page.
It's best if you can plan your gap year ahead of time and do your college application first but it's not required. No matter what you do with your gap year, you will be able to convince a college or an employer that you learned something from it. The only exception is playing video games.
Some suggestions (you will likely do a combination of those, either at the same time or one after the other):
Work, earn money for your next steps, find out more about what's out there for you
Volunteer - spend time with children, with the elderly, with people with disabilities, develop your talents and find out how useful and important you can already be!
Spend time on your hobby and develop skills (Are you a musician? An artist? Try doing what you love!)
Entrepreneurship (work on your business idea)
Read great books
Apprenticeship (informal or through the Department of Labor). Learn a craft or a trade.