You should be keeping an active Tarot journal. wriye down all readings, even the One Card readings, everything you "receive" during your study. Its really the only way you can make the meanings your own. Any impression you receive, how you felt, what you "see". Later, you can go back and re-read these notes and perhaps gain some greater insight into what was happening that day or with some card in particular.
Here is an example of some Journal entries.

Tarot Journal
May 25, 2003
Universal Waite Deck
One Card Daily Reading
Card Received XIX THE SUN
Happiness, protection, love, infancy, reason to celebrate, security. Actually felt the warmth of the sun and hear the little baby laugh! Felt like playing.
EVENTS OF THE DAY
Long day, went dancing at House of Blues to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and met them afterwards. Had fun.

And here's what an entry might look like for a longer reading

READING FOR RAINBOW
July 1, 2000

ROBIN WOOD DECK

CELTIC CROSS SPREAD WITH EXTRA FIVE CARDS DRAWN TO CLARIFY

Todays reading provided for my sister Rainbow says that she must stop being so tentative to get on with her life and do something different....take a new road, free herself from former restrictions and make some new choices. Emotions play a large part of the scenario right now and she must draw on her past good experiences to make the present and the future better. She is looking for solid footing and better than she is getting now

Hermit
5 of Pentacles
The World
4 of Pentacles
The Lovers
Queen of Cups
10 of Rods
Page of Cups
The Sun
9 of Rods
CLARIFYING CARDS WHEEL OF FORTUNE, JUDGEMENT, LOVERS, 8 OF CUPS, THE WORLD