Final answer:
Aleesa made a decisive choice to leave her old life behind for a new beginning. She prepared diligently and left a note for Mrs. Harvey before catching a taxi to the train station, symbolically shedding her past by leaving her braids behind and embracing her aspirations for the future.
Step-by-step explanation:
As she made her way towards the bus stop, Aleesa knew she was making the right choice. She walked confidently down the road, understanding there might be no turning back. Sitting down at her desk earlier, Aleesa had written a short note to Mrs. Harvey, outlining her reasons for leaving. With the train scheduled to depart at one, she knew a taxi from the Marborough Hotel would get her there on time. The decision to run away had crystallized in October, and by December, Aleesa had turned her plans into reality. Not unhappy, just feeling caged in Trenton, she moved to New York armed with her savings from diligent sewing work after school.
Just like the eight of the nine students who received calls, offering safety and guidance on their first day at Central High, Aleesa sought her own path. Even though she enjoyed some level of comfort in the familiarity of her neighborhood, she craved the allure of the unknown and the adventure it promised. The transformation was not just physical as she discarded her two blond braids at Warren's porch—her symbolic gesture of change and liberation. Each step she took was a moment of realization, each sight and sound a signpost towards a future crafted by her own aspirations.