The nice thing about being young is that you dont have responsibilities and you can do the things you want to do.
You are not wrong, but it is not one or the other, it is some of both.
I remember when my daughter was in 6th or 7th grade. Came home with at least 2 hours of homework everyday. Ridiculous. And I admit, I had issues at times trying to help her. It is true it you don't use it you lose it.
I think my viewpoint is significantly influenced by my attendance at a fine Jesuit high school. I went to school with a lot of really interesting, bright people who chose to do a lot of really interesting things with their lives during and after high school and college. Perhaps it was the sample, but everyone knew that eventually, we'd all go on to do "grown up" things, even if there were some detours along the way.
Which is my way of saying, I guess, that if my daughter wants to backpack through Europe when she's 18 instead of going to college right away, fine by me. More power to her.