Has SSG (E-6) been the best rank for you thus far?

I always remembered thinking when I was a young SPC longing to be an NCO that things would be easier; how wrong was I? When I became a Sergeant I was blown away by the amount of responsibility, I felt like a baby bird thrown out of the nest and expected to fly. Most of the time I felt as though I was swallowing water to keep from drowning. I had great leaders who never once let me get in too deep yet allowed me to make my own mistakes and grow and learn. That was the best way, I learned, to become the NCO I am today and I am so proud of that. The lessons I learned certainly prepared me to become a SSG. I feel like this is the best rank in the army. We know so much, work so hard, mentor so many and have so much pride and potential. How do you feel about being a SSG (or E6 for my brothers and sisters in different branches)?