Hi-Lite to launch life-skills academy in Winter Garden

As a 13-year-old, Jessica Villegas always was getting into trouble. 

She was expelled from school, fought with others, tried drugs and hung out with the wrong people. 

Villegas said she didn’t have the guidance all teenagers need to “provide them the courage, the empowerment, the tools, the resources to overcome those things.”

It’s teens like 13-year-old Villegas that inspired her to open Hi-Lite Academy, which teaches young adults necessary life skills. 

Villegas, who founded Hi-Lite Academy with Lenka Brady, is opening a new location Thursday, Aug. 14, in Winter Garden, with classes starting Monday, Aug. 25.

Villegas said opening a school always has been her dream. 

“My vision for Hi-Lite as the developer is to become a nationwide household name for teen and young adult development,” Villegas said. 

Five years ago, Hi-Lite was launched as a life-coaching brand that helped teens improve their lives. Now, Villegas said it’s being restructured. 

The brand will continue offering coaching, with the addition of the academy and mentorship programs that will be offered to schools. 

Villegas said she noticed public school systems lack teaching life skills aside from academics. 

“When we look at where we are in education right now, we’re losing more and more of those things that create that confidence, that clarity, that competence for adult life,” Villegas said. “Noticing what we need in the community and then seeing what’s happening in our education system throughout the nation, not just in the state of Florida, there is a huge gap in preparation. It gives me chill bumps.”

Villegas said a lot of young adults fear living on their own or don’t have the confidence or the skills to do that. 

“From the simplicities and the conveniences of modern life like Uber Eats and Amazon, you don’t have to necessarily provide for yourself in certain ways anymore,” she said. “And then when you’re thrust out into the college life or on your own for the first time, you realize that those aren’t sustainable methods for living life.” 

Wanting to make a difference, she created the Hi-Lite Academy to ensure young adults are learning the necessary skills to successfully enter adulthood. 

Teary-eyed, Villegas talked about the impact Hi-Lite has had in families and young adults with its coaching program. 

“We’ve had parents come to us crying that they never knew their kid could be this way or they have their kid back, or their kid is so different and they are just truly amazed,” Villegas said. “To know that the way we approach young people and the way that we help them see themselves and the possibilities for their lives is deeply healing for me and my own trauma and my own adversity. You know, you get to be part of that story forever.” 

Wanting to continue to positively impact as many teenagers’ lives as possible, Hi-Lite Academy will provide classes daily. The academy also will provide various opportunities for students to grow and get ready for adulthood. Full-time students will go on excursions around the community to learn about entrepreneurship, how businesses run, why life skills are important and more.

“Life skills, public speaking, building confidence through passion projects and going out in the communities and taking things on proactively — those are the things that they’re gonna have to start doing,” Villegas said. “AI is taking over everything else so we have to move back to the humanities.” 

The full-time program will cost about $1,200 per month. The academy also will offer two- or three-day programs, which will vary from $600 to $800 with all materials provided, though it won’t include community excursions. 

MORE INFORMATION: 

ADDRESS: 855 E. Plant St., Suite 800, Winter Garden. 

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays 

TUITION: Full-time, $1,200 per month; two-day program, $600 per month; three-day program, $800 per month. 

DETAILS: Hi-Lite Academy allows early drop-offs and late pickups. Founder Jessica Villegas said the academy will have very flexible hours. Designed for young adults, Hi-Lite Academy teaches them how to cook, clean, communicate and more, so they can learn how to do daily-life tasks properly, as adults. 

INFORMATION: (321) 236-2053 or hiliteacademy.com