Hampton University graduates on Sunday were urged to be vigilant when sorting through the myriad of information bombarding them by U. S. President Barack Obama.

Obama told graduates of the traditionally black university in Hampton, Va, "You're graduating in a time of great difficulty for America and the world. You're coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don't rank all that high on the truth meter."

The graduates are entering the job market during a period of heightened international competition in an economy still trying to rebound from a devastating recession in a country fighting two wars.

Obama said, "It's a period of breathtaking change, like few others in our history. We can't stop these changes, but we can adapt to them. And education is what can allow us to do so. It can fortify you, as it did earlier generations, to meet the tests of your own time."

Obama also said that an education prepares graduates to compete in a global market and readies them to be citizens.

He said that fortunately, graduates have the tools to navigate the rough waters.

According to Obama, "Your education has honed your research abilities, sharpened your analytical powers and given you a context for understanding the world."

Obama added that while an education can prepare people to face a tough economy, the tests of citizenship and the challenges of the day, it's "a stubborn insistence on pursuing a dream" that "makes us Americans." (With Inputs from Agencies)