Secondary school is a collective experience that most Singaporeans share, regardless of their age and whether they're from a neighbourhood or affiliated school (because every school is a good school).

From copying our friends' homework to fooling around and trying to look cool, one thing is clear - we had fun.

Even if we sometimes looked stupid while trying to be cool.

And while we may be dying to forget our horrible hairdos and act-cool poses from those adolescent years, here are some good memories you will definitely remember from secondary school.

Especially if you were a naughty noughties child.

1. The whole canteen going "OHHHH" when someone accidentally topples a bench during recess.

God forbid you ever stand up too quickly and topple the canteen bench in the process.

But nobody ever knows who toppled the bench. Everyone would jeer just to join in the fun. Even the person guilty of the bench topple.

These days, we hear that benches are attached to canteen tables. Sad. #endofanera

2. Girls wearing fluorescent bras that can be seen through their shirts.

When confronted: "I never ask you to see what!" 

3. Girls with the "cockroach feelers" hairstyle

Some had the "wet look" feelers too.

4. Upper secondary guys with their slouchy long pants.

It was cool to wear your pants like they were slipping off, but not falling. It was cool to defy gravity. Not cool if they were not wearing boxers though.

5. Orange combs with the pointy ends sticking out of our pockets.

Ah, the hallmark of a well-groomed, stylish student.

6. Wannabe “gangs” waiting for their ka kias (minions) in the void deck opposite school.

The wannabe "gangsters" in your school always yelled about "meeting" at the void deck after school. And you’ve seen groups of  guys and girls gathering there as you walked out of school - and a couple in uniform swaggering their way across the road.

7. Trying your best to avoid the wannabe pai kia (literally "bad kids") gangs.

As cool as we all wanted to be (or at least look like we were), we were still secretly scared of "gangsters", even if they were just wannabes. It was nerve wrecking to meet eyes or walk past them in a corridor.

8. Pulling bra straps.

We're pretty sure this didn't just happen between girls.

9. Girls would show off their FBT shorts any chance they got.

School PE shorts made you look like shit. FBT shorts were sexy. Better yet if you have them in all the colours.

10. Guys tucking out their shirts at any opportunity.

"Eh sorry la cher, I don't know my shirt drop out sia."

Don't forget the purposefully loosened tie for the Jay Chou wannabes.

11. Speaking of Jay Chou...

Before Justin Bieber, there was another helmet hairstyle.

12. Always sneaking into the teachers' toilet.

Cos' the teachers' toilet always has toilet paper and smells like heaven in comparison.

13. Because our toilets looked like this

14. And people smoked in there.

There were always stories of people hiding cigarettes in pen boxes and under toilet lids.

15. Hanging out at the mama shop after school.

There was little more exciting than eating a 10 cents ice popsicle while sneaking glances at your crush.

16. Speaking of crushes...

Constantly disturbing your crush was one of the best ways to flirt.

17. Vandalising your friends' tables.

Embarrass them by writing stupid things on their tables. Was also another way to get your crush's attention.

18. Breaking test tubes in the chemistry labs.

Practical chem period = playtime.

Heat the acid! Put more magnesium! OMG it exploded! Quick, throw away the test tube!

19. Camping on MSN.

First thing you do when you get home? Get on MSN.

Saw your crush come online but haven't figured out how to start a conversation? Appear offline first.

Feeling emo? Update your status with the lyrics of some Avril Lavigne song.

20. tYpYiing liiK diiS

Ish was cool to type lik dis. Sometimes euu would oso tYpe liiK diiS bEcox evEryOnE was doin it. Ish a wonder how we managed to learn dis language. Youth ish power.

Top image via 

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