Meet Yasani Valerio | Yasani Valerio / Ophthalmologist Technician and Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yasani Valerio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yasani, what do you want your legacy to be?
I never had a great up bringing or great influences in my life. My mother was a single mother who did her best raising four kids on her own, She worked two jobs just to put food on the table and clothing on her kids back. Someone who was abusive physically, and verbally by my father. She suffered a lot and turn to alcohol to forget her problems. Aside of her suffering and substance abuse she was always there for us and knew when to be a mother. I had three other siblings, two older brothers and a sister. My two oldest brother are in jail and I have a sister that has a alcohol problem and is a drug addict. I decided that I did not want to be or end up like my siblings and do better for myself. I have been working very hard since I was a young girl to make my mother proud and to give myself a better life. Not only do I work full time as an Ophthalmologist technician, Monday through Friday , and running my business most evenings, and on the weekends, I have been granted guardianship of my 8-year-old niece who I have had since she was 5 and a half years old. I want to be remember as someone who worked hard to pursue her dreams, a passionate human and independent. Someone who never let the past dictate her future and cause of her past it made her strong and the woman she is today.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been working in Ophthalmology since I was 16 and I am now 47 years old. I started in the file room, filing charts, and making appointments. Now I am an ophthalmologist technician, and contact lens specialist. On Sept of 2021, I decided to open my own business Sweet Creations by Yasani, someone who specializes in making homemade sweet treats.

I am very proud of my work ethics. How I am able to support myself financially with my business and not needing any help from no one. It hasn’t been easy to do this by myself cause there is still challenges I face in the baking industry, but I do not and will not give up. I have learned that in order to pursue something you are passionate about you need to keep pushing yourself, and believe in yourself.

I don’t like it when people ask me what sets me apart. I don’t like to compete with others cause you are setting yourself up for failure. All I can to do is be me, try and be unique and always bring something different to the table cause I only compete with myself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am Dominican American and almost all my friends are Latina. Of course, I am going to take them to a spot where they can listen to Spanish music.

One of the places I’ll take them is a spot call Eclipse di Luna where you can listen to a live Cuban salsa band, and dance.

Another spot is Avalon, is a family friendly atmosphere including a shopping centers, movie theaters, and lots of community events.

My last spot would be Lake Lanier that is the closest to a beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my husband Tracy Hall and my nice/daughter Mia Valerio for supporting me through all my dreams. The team behind Sweet Creations that taste everything that I bake to let me know if the taste of the products are good or not. I can not thank my friends enough for also always being very supportive.

Website: https://sweetcreationsbyyasani.com/

Instagram: @sweetcreationsbyyasani

Linkedin: Yasani Valerio

Facebook: Yasani Hall

Other: TikTok @yasanivalerio

Image Credits
No one but myself