Let's face it, the most common thought about moving out is "I can't wait to decorate my dorm/apartment!" or "It's going to be wonderful not having my parents breathing down my neck." It's exciting; the idea of being on your own sounds enticing. 18 years of living with pushy parents and obnoxious siblings are enough-especially when the excitement of college is filling the air. Moving out is a milestone; it's something that's celebrated and looked forward to. Unfortunately, not all of it is confetti and rainbows.

Freedom is always viewed as a positive word. When you think of the word, you may imagine a bird flying freely or kids running out of school for summer break. But it isn't always a happy feeling. Moving out of your parent's house doesn't just mean switching addresses. It means gaining complete freedom

—which can be scary. Every single choice rests in your hands and you must face the consequences. The truth is that no one can ever prepare you for freedom; it's just something everyone has to experiment with. Though it sounds exciting, it's also a lot of responsibility.

The feeling of responsibility can actually feel pretty lonely. It's comforting to know that you have a parent to come home to when you mess up, but now that's gone. At first, that may feel awful, but it takes time getting used to it. It's good and healthy to not to depend on your parent's anymore. High school is for preparing you for life; college is for actually developing it.

There's a big difference, especially when it feels like you're not prepared at all. It can seem intimidating to figure out so many things when you're fully independent. It's certainly something to think about, but not a reason to scare you or prevent you from moving.

Moving outcomes with a lot of emotions—and not all of them are positive. It's important to have fun; buy all of the cute decor and throw a last minute going-away party. But it's also important to realize that there may be some negative emotions. Negative emotions are perfectly normal; no one expects you to have it all together.

It takes time to figure out which schedule works best and how to deal with homesickness, but it's apart of the experience. Focus on the good parts and make the most of them; just don't forget that it is a big experience that comes with responsibility.