The imbalance of life, or less respect for the foundational roles etc.

I have realized, once again, that life is not fair. I suppose I have deluded myself to think otherwise, or I have imagined a glorious future full of happy days and adoration. Being a senior, I have put in lots of work to get where I am. I have been in the process of becoming a teacher and a proficient musician; not an easy task. I took it upon myself to prove that I too was a legitimate musician even though I chose a route that more securely finds a job. Yes, I don't practice as much, but I have done what I can without causing insanity. I have even fought the odds by working with shoddy equipment and starting my instrument in high school. What has it gotten me? Lots of "wow, you have improved" and happy professors. I sure have done a good job helping them by getting good grades, playing in the less than admirable jazz program(not even being allowed to solo when I'm the only who knows the first thing about it and wants the practice to improve), and basically proving that they can teach. In the end, however, I get very little recognition. It is the nature of my status as bass player (I believe) that keeps me from attaining prestige (sounds selfish doesn't it?). I struggle trying to reconcile my desire for recognition and fame with my desire to do away with an attitude I know is wrong. But how can you blame me. Most people do get recognized pretty heavily for the work I am putting in.
Being in a support role, i.e. playing bass, means that you do a job that is neither flashy nor inherently difficult. IN all honesty, the bass parts I play are not as hard as the other parts played by orchestra members. This is for two reasons: The instrument is harder to play fast because of the thickness of strings and size of the instrument and the support role needs to be simple to prevent chaos. If the bass was doing scalar runs all over the place, music would sound horrible; our job is to show people where the tonality lies and to keep the rhythm going. Now, I have set myself to giving a better name to my instrument, there as bassists out there doing incredible things, but most people are ignorant of this fact. So I, partly because of the simplicity of regular parts and partly for the cause of bass playing, want to play good solo repertoire. I have done that, however, without flawless intonation and quality equipment (remember the shoddy stuff I mentioned before) most people will be less than impressed. So, not matter what I do, I can't win.
I can't win a competition because there is just no great repertoire for the bass, I can't impress because my situation is hopelessly unimpressive, and I can't be recognized individually because I'm too busy providing the foundation for others to be flashy over.
Now, just in case you thought I was going to have a pity party, I want to include all of you who get passed over for those who look a little better in the spotlight.
It's same everywhere: Those linemen who help a quarterback from being sacked, the chorus singers who support the operatic tenors in their glory, and the friends who support others only to be used as an ear then ignored. We get passed up because we chose a role that we think is important. We like the idea of being the glue that holds things together or the foundation upon which others build. Yet, like anyone, we want a little recognition every once in a while, and if you haven't gotten any in a while, like me, it builds up until a little praise won't really do it. One complement like "you have really improved" doesn't do justice for the years of loyal, unappreciated service you have given. So I feel right when I am upset that I haven't gotten praise or respect (i hope you agree). It is my wish that people will begin to recognize the support role players and things will change, but don't expect it.
I just want to get out of here. Maybe a change of location will yield some more positive results.