It was during exam week. I was a junior in high school, about to walk into my fifth period class, ready to fail Ms. Kanu's AP Lang exam.

"The world would end during this class," someone had said. "If I knew what time the apocalypse was supposed to arrive I wouldn't have studied," another classmate murmured.

The year was 2012, and, if you remember junior year correctly (the impending senioritis, the stress of college applications, SAT/ACT testing, dissolving friend group drama, and cheating boyfriends) the world was ending as we knew it. Only, when I was taking that AP Lang final and trying to remember the plot of the 'Red Badge of Courage,' the sky did not turn to black. There were no zombies (unless you counted my classmates who were, of course, dead inside). Jesus did not come to take me home (in fact I think my mom picked me up after school).

Point is, just like when everyone thought the world was going to end in 2000 due to computer malfunctions (bringing forth the iconic line, "Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1999"), this world-ending "end of times" prophecy was incorrect, and most of us were pretty stoked the Mayans were wrong for once. But lately, as I write in May 2016, I'm convinced that the world should have ended before it all went to hell. In fact, I have six reasons.

1. Christian Bale would still be THE Batman

Now, I am a dedicated DC fan, so you know it's out of love when I say that DC movies are always terrible. No matter how good the comic--no matter how PERFECT the cartoon/television adaption--DC always lets fans down with movies in a way that Marvel never has. (Even that mess with "Fantastic Four" could not compare to the great travesty that was "Green Lantern.") Don't even get me started.

The ONLY claim to film fame we had was Batman. And Christian Bale's portrayal solidified that triumph. Until the trilogy came to a close with "The Dark Knight Rises" in 2012, and then two or three years later I find out that BEN AFFLECK IS PLAYING BATMAN AND WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT TURNED OUT. (Do yourself a favor, DC fan: skip "Batman V Superman" and go watch "Captain America: Civil War" as you cry salty tears of betrayal into your popcorn. It'll taste better that way.) But anyway, the world should have ended before anyone had to see the only Batman tragedy that wasn't the murder of his parents.

2. Paula Deen would just be that lady who likes butter.

I know, I know what you're going to say--"Veronica, it's better to know the truth about her." But you're wrong; it's not better. I can never use a Paula Deen inspired recipe again (which, in retrospect is probably better - or should I say butter - for my health.) But, in June 2013 when the public found out about Deen's use of the N-word to her staff and other OVERT displays of racism with her family, my heart broke.

My already fragile faith in humanity was again depleted by Deen. In the years to come, Deen's actions proved to only be an appetizer for the future revelations in bigotry in 2016 (but we'll get to that later). Ignorance is bliss, but, as I found out, no one is quite as ignorant as Paula Deen..

3. Obama would still be sitting president.

Now, of course, Obama will always be the president in my eyes, but if the world had ended in 2012, I wouldn't want any other president lovingly announcing the nation's impending doom than him. Back then, in late December, we (and by "we," I mean me and my liberal trash family) were still celebrating the re-election of our president. Back then, the "worst" threat of the GOP was Romney. Forty-seven percent Romney, whose slightly offensive dismissal of the middle/lower class was the most biggoted thing a modern presidential candidate could say (lol).

We had hope. The point is, I'd rather have had the world end in 2012 during Barry's term than have to suffer through this 2016 political apocalypse we have now. After all, there is no voice more reassuring than Barack's (even if he is declaring a state of emergency.)

4. HBO's "Game of Thrones" would still be following the book.

April 2012's premiere of GoT's season 2 was everything I've ever dreamed come to life. As someone who read GRRM's first book on the Song of Ice and Fire series (because our free six-month HBO subscription ran out), it was breathtaking how closely the television adaptation followed the book - to a point where if I missed an episode or temporarily skipped a chapter (Bran's POV is boring AF), I wasn't at a loss.

I knew exactly what was happening because the show and series were so seamlessly connected. Sure, there were a few deviances in season two (I still don't really understand why "The Others" are called "White Walkers" in the show) and everyone was sick and tired of book readers purposely spoiling the stories for the television watchers. In 2016, with every plotless killing and unnecessary rape, these new seasons seem to lose a bit of their original integrity. And, although I still would have wanted to see Joffrey dead, I'd rather have had Robb alive (RIP Prince of Winterfell/King of the North), and not known the truth behind Hodor's "Hodering."

5. My Chemical Romance would still be a band.

Now, I won't be a poser. When MCR was in it's prime, I was just a fairweather fan. Sure, I liked them enough to scream along to "Teenagers" with every fiber of my soul, but they were always there. They were supposed to be forever, and so I took them for granted. Then, in March 2013--still too fresh in the new year to me--they announced the end. And just liked that my childhood ended.

Sure, so many childhood bands have broken up, but MCR's breakup carried the weight of all those shattered childhood angst memories. If the world ended in 2012, we would till be happily singing to "Na Na Na" until the earth was engulfed in flames. Instead, the skies are blue, but we're still gloomily crying to the piano intro of "Welcome to the Black Parade."

6. Trump would still just be that super rich businessman on TV.

Yes, yes, it all comes back to politics. In 2012, Trump was still a powerful name--only he used it purely for capitalistic reasons. Although he was always involved in politics--endorsing Romney during the last election-- in spite of the many times Trump threatened to run, nothing substantial ever came out of it. Then everything changed. He started talking and talking... and never stopped. Although I do enjoy watching the Republican Party rot from the inside out and die, I would have rather the world ended in 2012 before finding out that half of the nation is deeply bigoted in ways I thought were over 50 years ago.

I'd rather the apocalypse have occurred before finding out that smart people from my high school are Trump supporters. The 2016 campaign uniquely brought out the dark underbelly of the GOP party that sadly reflects modern American society in a way I couldn't have imagined in 2012. Plus, in 2012, Hillary was still the boss bitch I knew and loved who was authentic and cool. How much has changed, and I don't just mean Trump's stance on abortion.

Despite my melodrama, I am glad the world did not end in 2012. After all, if the world ended that December. I would never have gone to college, never have met some of my best friends, never would have learned what an ABC party was, never would have all the things I have been afforded the opportunity to do--plus, I'd like to think I'm so much hotter now in 2016 now that someone's doing my eyebrows. But you have to admit, things seemed to have gotten a little grayer since 2012. Perhaps I'm too nostalgic, Christmas feels weird, music has become a little too mechanical, "twerk" is in the dictionary, and us 90s kids, well, we're not kids anymore.

So sometimes I'd like to go back in Ms. Kanu's (hella confusing) AP Lang class and appreciate that year a little more. After all, I did get a B+ on that test.