Help a college student

/prog/ I don't understand data structures very well and I have a test next week that will either make me or break me. I am usually a star student but something about me/data structures/teacher isn't right. I pay attention in class and take pages and pages of notes and every night I read the related material for at least 1-2.5 hours each and every night although I still find myself lost. Please give me advice on how I can better understand this subject.

Noo don't sage mah thread.
I get the pointers, I get the structures, I get the balancing, I get the manipulations but, I just can't put it all together or something. Please, there has to be people out there who struggled. Please just tell me how you overcame the obstacles, what tricks did you use to learn the material, who did you turn to for advice and help.