What am I?

You can enslave me for $390,000. Or you may think I am not worth a cent. I am essentially the same person and my worth is determined by your valuation.
I am otherwise ordinary.
It hurts to be given special treatment, to the extent that you live in a controlled environment. We went for cooking lessons, and the instructors worry we will cut ourselves. We went to school, and was arranged to meet with nearly every single important soul in the school. It is alright not to know those who are important. They can communicate their ideas in thick and wordy reports which would get up to the powers that be. It is the atmosphere that matters, created by the numerous small voices each with a story to tell. It is far more important to reach out to them and understand their ideas and mentalities. The only way to really know and experience, is to mix with the general populace.
For others on scholarships, they may enjoy being treated differently, like Martian specimens to be admired and marvelled at a distance. For me, it only serves to make those who have-it more demanding as special treatment becomes the norm. We want to become leaders to serve the people, not to be put on a throne encased in a bell-jar. All will be manufactured. Even happiness will be artificial.
I may appear less than adequate to you, mannerisms, speech, family backgrounds etc. You may even think it is fine to make demands of me, as you may do to others. Sometimes I even feel relatively incapable and thus obliged to serve others above in the hierachy. I am no competition.
Let me be an ordinary soul who just tries her best. People who love ivory towers and bell jars can keep them to themselves.

To real friends: tell me in comments or tagboard if you think there's anything you don't like about me. seriously, anything. we will still be friends after that. =)