Welcome to this introductory lesson focused on List Operations without the use of built-in functions. While Python provides a myriad of built-in functions to simplify list operations, understanding the concepts behind these key functions significantly improves your ability to solve complex problems and prepares you for scenarios where built-in functions may not exist, or if they do, may not offer the optimal solution.

Understanding list operations essentially begins with grasping this unique data structure. As straightforward as it might seem, conducting operations on a list without using built-in functions involves organizing and processing the elements in it manually. This may include counting occurrences of specific elements, finding the index of an element, or reversing the list. Careful navigation and precise control over how elements in the list are accessed or manipulated are key to effective list operation.

Grasping the concepts covered in this instruction is critical to succeeding in the practice exercises that follow, so take the time to understand these concepts thoroughly. Remember, we're not just learning algorithms but cultivating a deeper understanding of how we can break down and solve complex problems with relatively simple code. Therefore, get ready and anticipate an exciting, revealing practice session!