Forget how you feel,’ she said. ‘Forget what other people think. Pretend you are an actress on the stage. Speak with confidence, do not care how your words land and they will land well. People are mostly thinking of themselves. Decide who you want to be, who you want to show the world, and be that person. You can be anybody, my Violet. You have the power to present yourself to the world exactly how you wish to be seen.’