You say "three semesters"! You must be in formal school. Unless you are the rare gifted person, or your school has classes for several hours EVERY day, there, you will learn nothing because they do not know how to impart the necessary skills for learning to students. First understand that it is not your fault. You have been lied to as we all have. To learn a language it must be priority in your life and you must devote your spare time to it constantly. Apart from from whatever your school gives you, you must have your own curriculum.
Go buy this very cheap book and self study on the side:
Amazon.com: The New Penguin Russian Course: A Complete Course for Beginners (Penguin Handbooks) (9780140120417): Nicholas J. Brown: Books

P.S. Между прочим, Детские книги, не настолько легкий!