Recently, someone asked me a question that made me think:

"What do you think your 18-year-old self would think of you now? Would she be surprised?"

Well, yeah she'd be surprised!

Eighteen-year-old Elizabeth was two years into college and about to drop out and get married.

My 18-year-old self wanted to be a public school teacher so much, but that opportunity was about to get so far away, it would seem to disappear from sight.

But it turned out just one door had to open: a commuter college for $50 a semester. That one door opened, and I got to graduate college and become a special ed teacher in a public school.

And then another door opened, and another door opened, and another door opened. And now, many years and many doors later, I'm a United States senator and a candidate for president.

I feel deeply blessed that I had the chance to live my 18-year-old self's dream — and end up somewhere that younger Elizabeth would have never even imagined. But those same doors that opened for me and my family aren't opening for so many families today.

I'm in this fight to create opportunities — to open doors — for everyone in this country, but it's going to take a grassroots movement for big, structural change fighting by my side.

And I'm so grateful you're in this fight too. Tonight, Iowa will kick off the next phase of the primary, and I'm counting on this team more than ever. Can you chip in $2, or whatever you can, before tonight's caucuses and help power this campaign?

Thanks for being a part of this,

Elizabeth