The student pilot stated he was on a solo cross-country flight. He entered the traffic pattern at his intermediate stop and completed all before landing checks. He turned on final approach for landing and flared too late, resulting in a hard landing, loss of directional control, runway excursion, and collision with an embankment during an attempted go-around. The airplane sustained structural damage to the firewall, right wing, and right horizontal stabilizer. The student pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.