Hi John: I think most students are similar to you and exhibit some of the same feelings you describe. One in particular, repitition. It is rare when a student can hear or read something once and expect to remember it, or understand it, or put it into the bigger picture of the topic. Atheletes practice, practice, practice. Musicians rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. I guess you could say (successful) students repeat, repeat, repeat. Even if they don't fully comprehend full mastery, it'll take some repitition in order to convert that information over into long term memory. Regards, Barry