Bud from Bud, Not Buddy is a great character. He is also the story's first-person narrator, so finding quotes that show him making a decision should not be difficult; however, I think quotes that show him having a sense of carpe diem and/or perseverance would be much more in line with the spirit of the question. I also think finding any quote that shows Bud making a major decision would work well, too.
Chapter 4 offers a few solid quotes that I think that you could use. After Bud escapes from being in the shed, he goes back into the Amos household in order to get his suitcase back. Bud does successfully get his suitcase back, and he should leave at that point. Staying any longer than necessary in the house is a huge risk; however, Bud decides that getting a little bit of revenge on Todd Amos is worth the risk. Bud's desired revenge is to get Todd to urinate in the bed while sleeping. Bud knows that this is a major point of contention for Mrs. Amos, so Bud warms up a jar of water and daringly pours it on Todd in order to get Todd to wet the bed.
Finally I decided to just pour the water on his pajama pants.
I pulled the blanket and sheet down and emptied the jar.
After pulling that stunt, Bud decides to go on the "lam." He doesn't know where he is going to go, but he has no desire to go back to the orphanage. Bud struggles to find some direction at first, and he figures that the librarian that he has gotten to know can give him some helpful advice. Unfortunately, she has moved to Chicago, so another door has closed for Bud. Despite the setback, Bud is still convinced that he will not go back to the Home.
I thanked the librarian for the bad news and went to sit at one of the big heavy tables so I could think what to do next.
Going back to the Home was out . . .
He knows that another door will soon open, and it does when his friend Bugs joins him. The two of them discuss the idea of heading out west for better opportunities. Bud decides that sounds like a plan, and he decides that stowing away on a train is the way he is going to get there. The plan doesn't work out, and Bud misses the train. He evaluates his options, then makes the biggest decision of the story. He decides to head to Grand Rapids and hunt down his supposed father.
I put the flyers back in the suitcase and stood up. Just like Bugs, I was going west!
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