I love Luna Lovegood. She is a kind and beautiful soul, and a wise, and wonderfully unique character.
The thing about Luna is that she took no crap throughout the series. She was bullied by everyone, even the people in her own house who were supposed to be like a second family to her. Instead of becoming bitter and cutting herself off from the world, she remained compassionate and reached out to other people when she saw they needed it. She remained true to herself and didn't change for anyone.
As readers we're introduced to her in Order of the Phoenix, where she's 14. So for four long years she dealt with people laughing behind her back as well as to her face, teasing ("Loony Lovegood"), and having her personal effects stolen and scattered about the castle. Not once did she stoop to their level and retaliate with similar behavior. But she was in no way a push over or naive. In Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 10, when Hermione insults the Quibbler Luna responds sternly, and doesn't let Hermione get a pass on her behavior. She's shown throughout the last three novels (since her introduction) to be highly intuitive. She speaks her mind and behaves in a way that doesn't conform to traditional social standards, not because she's "socially awkward" but because she recognizes when others are uncomfortable by them. (ie. At Bill and Fleur's wedding when she says, "Harry doesn't want to speak to us right now. He's just too polite to say it.")
I want to remind everyone that Luna Lovegood is one of the most intelligent characters in the entire Harry Potter franchise. She's incredibly self-aware showing a deep understanding and knowledge of herself, is the only person at Bill and Fleur's wedding to recognise Harry in disguise just by reading his expressions and feels that honesty is always the best policy.
Luna held the belief that almost anything is possible until it's truly proven false. She was extremely relativist in her views. She did what made her happy and other's laughed at her for it. She made charms to ward against creatures people thought were nonexistent, she fed thestrals in her spare time, she crafted a full Gryffindor Lion head for a hat, and she read books upside-down. But Luna was also brave, compassionate, and stuck to her own values. She hand painted her friends portraits on the walls of her bedroom, she joined the D.A. at 14, could produce a corporeal patronus at the same age, was part of Harry's closest friends who fought Death Eaters in the Ministry, joined the resistance against Voldemort when she was 16, was captured and suffered at Death Eater hands for months, and still choose to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Luna was never childish, immature, or incompetent. The fact that she was never part of a romantic sub-plot does not make her lesser. Luna knew her own value and the value of other people before they recognized it themselves.
"Being different isn't a bad thing. It just means your're brave enough to be yourself."
I think this one speaks for itself. Embracing your quirks and unique qualities is all a part of accepting yourself for who you are. Maybe you have a tendency to ramble or don't feel like you talk enough. Maybe you're different in your bright blue hair and fun tattoos. Whichever way you stand out from the crowd, be proud of it. Being different is awesome.