Don't let it get you down Wave, Newgrounds is comprised of children mostly, I wouldn't be surprised if you were only 14 - 15 yourself. Children are critical, but then again, so are audiences, especially if a work doesn't have a popular template or isn't up to par with what they've usually seen.
I recommend that you either:
A) Keep trying AND/OR
B) Just put some more time into your flash, polish it up, and then, if I am not mistaken I think that you can resubmit it. But take your time! Anything done well takes a buttload of time! :) The difference between Adam Philips and Other animators with good talent is that A) He spends more time then they do on his work, or has honing his skills and
B) He probably has a wacom graphire. lol
Great skills will take you somewhere, time will take you WAY farther, and Equipment ALWAYS helps alot, but if you are REALLY a hard worker, you can get amazing results with shit equipment.