Program Note: CNN Heroes received nearly 9,000 submissions from 100 countries. A Blue Ribbon Panel selected the Top 10 CNN Heroes for the year. Vote for your favorite CNN HERO OF THE YEAR here.

WATCH CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE
Thanksgiving night, 9 p.m. ET

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Malaak Compton-Rock
CNN Heroes
Blue Ribbon Panelist

Being a panelist is really special. This happens to be my favorite awards show – not the Emmys, not the Oscars, not the Grammys or the MTV awards – but this show.

Obviously I believe that if I get there before you do, I’m obligated to bore a hole and pull you through, and that’s what this show is all about.

So, when I got the invitation in the mail, I was ecstatic – I mean, I ran around the house, I told my husband, I was so excited.

It’s a privilege to even be in the company of my other panelists, first of all, and to be able to learn so much about people who are changing the world.

Editor's Note: Malaak Compton-Rock is the founder and director of The Angelrock Project, an online e-village that promotes volunteerism, social responsibility and sustainable change. She creates and champions initiatives focused on at-risk and orphaned youth, child abuse awareness and prevention, and Triple Negative Breast Cancer.