I had this problem with math in uni. All abstract concepts, zero explanations why we should care about it in the real world. So it goes in one ear and out the other. That has to be one of the least effective ways of learning about something, like my brain is not wired to retain information if it doesn't know what the use of it is.

Now I'm slowly discovering the "why do I need this" for much of it as I learn graphics programming, and it makes me wish I had known to pay more attention back then.