The discipline of data science is gaining attention due to a significant increase in the amount of data generated on a real-time basis. Despite the efforts from the institutions and national agencies, it has been witnessed that there have been substantial challenges in retaining and attracting students in the discipline of data science. Learning communities have been identified as effective mechanisms to improve student retention. However, fewer studies focus on student experiences within the context of a Data Science Learning Community. This study intends to investigate the student experiences within a Data Science Learning Community known as the The Data Mine (TDM) through the lens of Communities of Practice (CoP) and explore the contribution of the three tenets of CoP: "domain," "community," and "practice" in shaping student experiences. The study used a mixed-method case study design to understand the experiences of first-year students within TDM and identify the benefits and challenges associated with participating in the living-learning community. The findings of the study revealed that students considered participating in the learning community a valuable experience as it helped them collaborate with like-minded peers and mentors, also helped them develop data science skills.