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(CNN) - Hillary Clinton on Saturday spoke to an audience of thousands of college students in Arizona about the economic uncertainty facing their generation and the importance of education.

The former senator and secretary of state spoke at the Clinton Global Initiative University conference at Arizona State University, a weekend of speeches, panels, and seminars that address higher education and other issues facing young voters.

Clinton stuck to an agreeable message she has taken to many college campuses across the country: Education is critical as a way to rise up and better oneself.

"Education still remains the key to unlocking opportunity for individuals, for families, communities, and even countries," she said. "It remains the route out of poverty and into a better life with a rising income."

Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, has been making more public appearances lately, including a number on college campuses - with more visits scheduled this year. Although she has not said whether she will run in 2016, Clinton seems to be testing the waters, and young voters would be key to winning the nomination or presidency.

While Clinton is a popular figure among millennials, those born in the early 1980s and into the 2000s, many see her as part of the old guard. Only 49% believe she has new ideas, with 40% saying she does not, according to a USA Today/Pew survey. That perception played a part in young voters' overwhelming preference for Barack Obama - 14 years Clinton's junior - in the 2008 Democratic primaries.

In Saturday's address - as she has in other speeches - Clinton tried to break down that notion and speak to young voters' experiences.

"Here in the United States, we are struck by some quite unfortunate realities," she said, discussing the 6 million Americans between 16 and 24 years old who are neither employed nor in school. She also highlighted the higher unemployment rates for young college graduates - over 8%, a point and a half higher than the national average - and those without a high school degree - 26%.

Part of the effort to reach out to younger voters also has involved Clinton opening up, taking "selfies" and joining Twitter. She continued to reveal a more personal side Saturday, even sharing the story of her first job as a park supervisor, at age 13.

"I was thrilled, I felt so excited to have this job," she said. But, too young to drive a car, she had to figure out how to get all the equipment she needed from her house to the park, four miles away.

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Hillary Clinton talks jobs, economy to millennials