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Becoming a pro at biology requires that you study it in the right sequence. Just like in math, you start with the basics, namely, adding and subtracting, multiplying and dividing, then fractions, following by algebra, etc. The sequence for biology, however, starts off completely different, mainly focusing on what isn't really "biology". Instead, you start by learning basic chemistry, such as what matter is and what it's composed of, the atoms contained in molecules, and the periodic table, etc. Students new to biology expect to learn the interesting things right away, such as concepts in medicine or anatomy (technically things that make a doctor's job interesting), but you won't be able to appreciate the details of these topics if you're not introduced to the "boring" stuff first.
While you don't need to be an expert at chemistry to master biology, you do need the basics so that you understand how chemicals within a living system interact inside of a cell, for example. You cannot understand how a cell works without learning about macro-molecules and lipids – the step after chemistry.
Therefore, the way I would approach learning biology for the first time is to start with some chemistry. It will help you appreciate what living organisms are made. Knowing the basic structure of an atom will help you determine the types of chemicals that breakdown and form – the basis of metabolism. And finally, given that our bodies consist mainly of water, it's probably equally important to learn the unique properties of water which makes all life possible.
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