Speaking to more than 1,000 young people, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) urged her audience to change the world on Saturday.
Clinton -- who is considered a potential 2008 presidential candidate -- was the keynote speaker at the American Democracy Institute's 2006 Eastern Regional Summit at the National Constitution Center in Center City.
As the honorary chairwoman of the Democracy Institute's youth initiative, Clinton touched upon issues ranging from the need for affordable education to America's "addiction" to foreign oil.
She also encouraged young people to step up and make progressive changes in American democracy.
"Bring your hopes; bring your dreams; bring your iPods and your cell phone camera, and change the world your way," she said.
Clinton also commended MTV for its coverage of the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan, which "put other TV networks to shame."
In addition, the former first lady emphasized the need to "take a stand on the rights of students to vote where they go to school."
The event also included a series of workshops and speeches with the common theme of involving youth in the democratic process.
College of William and Mary President Gene Nichol -- who spoke just before Clinton -- said he felt like "a garage band asked to precede the Rolling Stones -- although Senator Clinton is much younger than the Rolling Stones."
Many students said they were impressed with Clinton's speech.
"Hillary gave us exactly what we expected," said Kim Wilson, a University of Delaware Ph.D. student, adding that the speech was "phenomenal."
Wilson -- a Republican-turned-Democrat -- enjoyed the many personal anecdotes Clinton worked into her address.
In a tribute to the late Coretta Scott King and other figures of the civil rights movement, Clinton spoke of her early political inspirations.
"I remember going to hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak in Chicago," Clinton said. "I was a Republican at the time; America was changing, and so was I."
College sophomore Sofia Owen, a member of Penn Democrats and volunteer for the event, said Clinton was "wonderful."
"She drew a lot of people and had a lot of good things to say."
Helen Leung, College senior, said the speech was "enlightening and inspiring, bringing hope to the future of our generation."
Leung added that Clinton has her vote if she makes a run at the White House.
