DR. WALLACE: I'm a female who is 19 and still living at home with my parents. However, we often don't get along too well as each of my parents have separate issues that cause a lot of friction in our daily family life.

I've been dating a guy I met through my work about two months ago. He knows I want to move out from home now that I have a decent full-time job and he's offered me to move in with him into his studio apartment.

I'm seriously considering his offer since I don't know how much longer I can hold out at my existing home. What do you think? — Really Need To Move, via email

REALLY NEED TO MOVE: I suggest that you do not even consider moving in with a guy at this point in your life! First of all, you've only known him for a few months, so you need a lot more time to get to know him before making any major commitment.

Second, you're not married yet! And at 19 years old I recommend that you take your time and see where this relationship goes first. Over time, the two of you may grow together or grow apart. His studio apartment would be very tight quarters for you to exist in, especially if a few second thoughts about the relationship cropped up.

Third, it's much harder to exit a "living together" relationship versus just a dating relationship. If you moved in and in a few months decided to move out, there would quite likely be a lot of drama attached to that event that you could certainly do without.

If you can support yourself with your good current job, why not find a compatible female friend and look to rent a modes but spacious local apartment as a first stage of you spreading your wings and leaving home? I feel this type of arrangement with an existing friend would be best for you at this point in your life.

I FIND THE VARIANCE VERY SURPRISING

DR. WALLACE: I'm a freshman in high school and now that the holidays are over, I'm back to the grind of the high school experience! I actually do enjoy high school, especially because I like the variety of having many different teachers and different classes.

However, there is something that puzzles me about my current high school experience. Some of my teachers are really strict in the way they run their classrooms, how they handle tardiness and how they don't allow cell phones to use to take notes on, while other teachers are so laid back that they never seem to mind what the students do, when they arrive to class and what tools they wish to use in class.

And don't get me wrong, some of the more lenient teachers are indeed excellent teachers who do a great job explaining the course material and truly care about seeing their students succeed.

I find it amazing that the styles (and rules!) vary so widely on the very same high school campus. I know you worked for decades at high schools, so what do you think accounts for this? — I Find It Surprising, via email

I FIND IT SURPRISING: There are indeed some overarching rules that every school has, but when it comes down to individual classrooms, there is reasonable freedom for teachers to set up and administer their own style as they aim to run their classes in the way they see fit.

I feel this is fine as it provides a microcosm of what students will face in the world over their careers in the workplace. Not every business or manager or supervisor at a company, for example, will have the same style and same rules.

Being able to adapt and thrive under a variety of circumstances is a hallmark of a successful adult. Look at your current experiences as good training for your future. Being able to deal effectively, work alongside and cooperate with a variety of personalities and styles is a very good skill to foster and develop.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Ivan Aleksic at Unsplash