21 Back-to-School Tech Memes for Nerds Who Were the Computer Whiz of the Class

Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor

Sep 6, 2026 10:00 AM EDT

Remember the computer lab class?

It's back-to-school season, and many of us are triggered by it. Sure, thinking back on those simpler times feels nostalgic and often time comforting, but it's also a reminder of insanity. Oh, you don't agree? So you weren't the computer whiz of the class? You didn't end up studying tech when you got older? Then, yeah, maybe you don't get it.

For all my computer nerd students and graduates, welcome! Whether you have already graduated or are still in the school trenches, this time of year is always something. Life as a person interested in coding is a slippery slope to computer science absurdity. Remember Myspace? Coding was so fun back then. You thought, "Hey, maybe I could do this for work!" So you go to school to study it and BAM, you're now literally learning a new language and math and what? Huh? I don't remember Myspace being this confusing…

Don't worry, bestie, you aren't alone! There are many other nerds like me and you whose favorite class was computer lab in high school. Also, LOL, remember computer lab? One time I programmed my teacher's computer to play the "cat, I'm a kitty cat, and I meow meow meow, and I meow meow meow" video, and he couldn't figure out how to turn it off. It was magnificent. Did I get sent to the principal's office? Yes. Did I actually go to the principal's office? LOL no way. Glad I can meme about it today, though.