I can remember my first data structures course. I remember being a bit overwhelmed at first.
I was more of a visual learner. To better grasp the material it really helped to see pictures. I used to draw out the steps of inserting, deleting and iterating through data structures such as a linked list or queue. It took up a lot of paper before I was done, but it was so worth it.
Once I got down drawing the process of insertions and what nots, the transition to actually programming the data structure was much easier.
Being able to visualize what was going on in memory really helped. And, as others mentioned before me: practice, practice, practice!
That there is a big part of success.
Good luck!
