Don't worry about it Ev, but don't impair your writing options by deciding not to ever submit anything to the newspaper. There are a lot of journalists out there who make a good living out of writing for newspapers, and they get the benefit of having a wide audience and perhaps drawing attention to an important issue.
Do not not not not NOT give up because you get turned down. Success is not, and never has been, getting it right first time. It's being able to try again when you don't make it, over and over, no matter how many times it takes, until you make it.