any knowledge nuggets from pros for a newb?

Hello all,
brand new to the forums here. If I'm in the wrong area for this question please direct me to the right place. I have my first networking class next semester, for the first CCNA, and in preparation I bought a few pieces of gear.
so far I have:
2501 router
2950 switch
2 console cables

I don't have a background in networking at all. With all of that I am wondering what I can do to begin learning, rather... To all of you who are in the middle of this or near the end, what would be the two or three most important things to get a jump on? I'd be working with either those two pieces or with packet tracer (but I'd like to mess around with the physical ones... ya know...). I just want to get a jump start.
thanks!

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Roguetadhg

http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/84494-6-figure-fundamentals-free-vid.html

minnowALE

lol, thanks roguetad

kurosaki00

regarding the ccna studies
Since you say your new to networking and decided to skip Network+
Maybe you could watch the CBT nuggets CCENT or/and Network+ videos
It will give you some background about the technologis and will create (hopefully) some interest for them
An alternative to network+ videos is Professor messer's free video training. Its great stuff and FREE
if you dont have much IT/Systems background, check out all the prof messer video series for a good foundation.

Then just keep going with your ccna classes, gear wise you should be ok
My other recomendation is get packet tracert (cisco simulator) and do the techexams ccna labs

Roguetadhg

Gotta set realistic expectations out of the gate, don't ya know!

minnowALE

sweet, thanks all, I'll check out those resources as well kurosaki.