13 School Memories That Feel Like They Were from a Different World
A nostalgic look back at bizarre, unforgettable school experiences that feel unreal today.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Growing up in school in the past felt like a completely different universe. From dangerous playground games to specific classroom rituals, these moments stick with us like fever dreams. Here are 13 school memories that feel like they came from another dimension entirely.
1. Overhead Projectors That Took a Full Minute to Warm Up
Maryville University Archives on Wikimedia Commons
Before smartboards, we had clunky overhead projectors that hummed like old refrigerators. Teachers scrambled with transparencies and permanent markers, praying they didn’t smudge anything.
2. Watching “Bill Nye the Science Guy” Like It Was a Field Trip
Senator Chris Coons on Wikimedia Commons
Nothing screamed excitement like that wheeled-in TV with a VHS tape labeled “Bill Nye.” We’d sit back, snack on hidden gum, and absorb science from the most energetic man in a bow tie.
3. Writing with Gel Pens Like It Was a Personality Trait
Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
Color-coded notes? Absolutely. Glitter-infused, fruit-scented pens were more than school supplies — they were identity statements. You knew someone’s vibe based on whether they used metallic blue or neon orange.
4. Rolling TV Carts Like They Were Royalty
Sean Hackbarth on Flickr
The sound of squeaky wheels meant one thing: no actual lesson today. Students craned their necks to get a view, often blocked by someone’s head. If you got the front seat, you were living large.
5. Collecting Silly Bandz Like They Were Sacred Relics
Scot Scoop on Wikimedia Commons
No one really needed Silly Bandz, but we had to have them. Worn up to the elbows and traded like gold, these stretchy shapes defined your cool factor.
6. Using Clippy the Microsoft Assistant for Homework
Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Clippy popped up with googly eyes and the worst timing imaginable. He’d offer “help” while you typed a book report and somehow made things harder.
7. Playing Dodgeball Like It Was a Gladiator Match
Wan San Yip on Unsplash
There were no soft foam balls — just red rubber missiles with a vengeance. You either dodged like your life depended on it or got slammed in the face. Kids turned into warriors with killer instincts.
8. Having to Remember Everyone’s Phone Number
Aliaksei Smalenski on Pexels
Before cell phones had contact lists, you memorized digits like they were secret codes. A folded paper in your backpack had friends’ numbers scribbled in pen.
9. Wearing Heelys and Pretending You Had Superpowers
Dan Taylor on Wikimedia Commons
Rolling through hallways like a ninja on wheels felt like flying. Heelys gave us speed, swagger, and, occasionally, a bruised tailbone. Teachers banned them fast, but not before we felt like school had become a skate park.
10. Doing the Macarena at Every School Assembly
Joe Shlabotnik on Flickr
Every pep rally, dance, and talent show had the same moment: the entire gym doing the Macarena. No one questioned why we danced in unison to a Spanish pop song from 1993.
11. Taping Pencils to Erasers and Calling It Engineering
Katerina Holmes on Pexels
We built weird pencil contraptions that doubled as slingshots, towers, or miniature weapons. No one really knew why — we just did it. Every desk had broken erasers and bent paper clips.
12. Bringing Tamagotchis to Class and Acting Like Parents
COSMOH LOVE on Unsplash
You’d sneak glances at your desk to make sure your pixel pet was fed, bathed, and not dying. Teachers hated them, but we risked detention for our digital offspring.
13. Getting Scholastic Book Fair Flyers Like They Were Treasure Maps
Enokson on Flickr
That glossy, colorful booklet was pure anticipation. You’d circle books, posters, and random toys with a dreamer’s hope. It wasn’t just about reading — it was about collecting cool stuff.