Welcome to JavaRanch
Sorry it has taken so long to reply.
One thing at a time. Learn to program in Java, and forget all about sitting SCJP until you know how to program.
Go through HFJ slowly. Whenever there is an example, copy it out by hand (except there a re a few examples which are described as incomplete), run it, see how it works, change it and see what happens.
Whenever you find a class you aren't familiar with, read about it in the
documentation.
And take it easy. Rome wasn't built in a day, and it takes time to learn to program.