Light Seeker | 找到你的光

Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.

Dear diary,

Nice to meet you again. I really like this question.

Before answering it, I want to explain why I disappeared for a few days. I went to visit some old friends—college classmates and even friends from junior high school. I missed them deeply. Being with them reminded me of who I was before life became filled with roles, responsibilities, and tightly packed schedules.

Now, back to the question.

The “first day” that immediately comes to mind is my first day of graduate school—and I have to admit, something a little unexpected happened. On that very first day, I wasn’t able to attend class in person because I already had another important meeting scheduled. I informed the professor in advance and asked for permission to take leave.

Even though I wasn’t physically present, my classmates were incredibly kind and proactive. They messaged me, kept me updated on what happened in class, and even helped organize group assignments so I wouldn’t feel left behind. That small act of consideration touched me more than I expected.

When I finally joined the class later, I didn’t feel like an outsider at all. Instead, I felt welcomed. Everyone was friendly, open, and willing to connect. That experience taught me something important: sometimes, a “first day” isn’t about being perfectly prepared or fully present—it’s about how people treat one another, especially when someone is missing.

In many ways, this experience reflects principles from adult learning theory. Knowles (1980) emphasizes self-directed learning and readiness to learn within real-life contexts. My classmates’ initiative and shared responsibility for communication showed that learning doesn’t come only from a syllabus, but from mutual respect, empathy, and collaboration.

It also echoed Lave and Wenger’s (1991) concept of communities of practice, where learning and belonging begin through legitimate peripheral participation. Even before I fully entered the physical classroom, I was already becoming part of the learning community through these small, inclusive actions.

Looking back, that first day wasn’t stressful or intimidating as I had imagined. It was gentle. It reminded me that learning is rarely a solitary journey, and that beginnings don’t always need to be dramatic to be meaningful. Perhaps that’s what first days are really about—not proving ourselves, but recognizing that we are already supported by a community that helps us grow into new roles.