Student pilot on solo flight reported runway excursion due to gusty crosswind on landing.

Narrative

At XA:00; I was scheduled to take a local student solo from ZZZ [airport] to build solo flight time. Before the flight; I checked the aviation weather government website as part of my standard before-flight weather briefing. ZZZ showed winds 8kts at 180 with no gusts. However; airports in the vicinity; most notably ZZZ1 [airport]; were showing gusts at 18kts.The first mistake was electing to take a solo in varying wind conditions. This was an unsafe choice and showed poor ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making). At XA:10; I had pre-flighted the aircraft but had not confirmed that I was absolutely clear about the weather from my CFI. There was an exchange of text messages; but I was never officially cleared to fly.This is the second mistake; I should have made absolutely certain that my CFI had cleared me to fly in the weather that was presented.Takeoff was at XA:20; and the flight was normal. Turbulence was present but expected; and all maneuvers were executed at a level that I was comfortable with. At XB:25; I began the short return to ZZZ from the state practice area. I listened to the ATIS and was surprised to hear the winds were now variable at 10kts; gusting at 18kts.At this moment; I should have contacted my CFI either through my phone or by contacting the tower. I am not rated or endorsed to fly in crosswinds stronger than 8kts; so I was operating outside the FARs that governed my flight limitations. I decided to press on with landing; knowing that it could be a dangerous situation but not considering my alternative actions.While at the time; I considered landing at ZZZ my only reasonable choice; looking back; it is clear that I had many different options. I had a full tank of fuel and could have waited for an updated ATIS. While the winds were a crosswind at ZZZ; there are many airports around ZZZ that may have had a headwind-bearing runway. Because I was operating outside the FAR; I should have [advised ATC] to alert the airport to my situation.I entered the base leg for runway XXL as ATC instructed and turned to final; I was at flaps 30 and 65kts.I have been trained and unfortunately did not apply the lesson that I should have used as few flaps as possible for crosswind landings and come in slightly faster at 70kts.Ten feet above the runway; I was struck by the first gust of wind; which lifted my aircraft slightly and then pushed it back down.At this point; I should have commenced a go-around; but I was target fixated on landing the aircraft and not on piloting the aircraft.On touchdown; my right wheel grabbed the runway; but no other wheel did. A second gust of wind came from my left and lifted/turned the aircraft right. I remember putting a full left rudder; but I am unsure of my aileron attitude. Though I believe it was also left.I should have input the correct crosswind technique of using the aileron to keep to the centerline and the rudder to keep the nose straight.At this point; going around was no longer an option. I was more than 30 degrees off-center and was entering the grass. Inputting full throttle probably would have ended with a crash into the hangers. However; I was able to ensure that neither wing nor prop struck the runway or grass; and I applied aerodynamic braking to slow the plane; finally coming to rest a few feet before taxiway 1.As is said; few accidents or incidents occur simply from one mistake. It is a compounding series of errors that led to my runway excursion; and looking back at what had happened; the simplest and easiest choice would have been not to go flying; at least not solo. I am happy that I am uninjured; and while there is no official word on the aircraft; the post-flight showed no damage.This has been an unrivaled learning experience in my flight education so far. It reminds me that no one is safe from the weather and that small choices and errors can lead to much larger and far more devastating consequences later in the flight. I had to succumb to the'I need to complete this flight' or 'pressing ahead' mentality that has so often hurt or killed aviators. This was the last solo flight I needed to complete my solo requirements; and I didn't want to have to delay it after it had been delayed three times prior. The weather was marginal winds when I left; and 'flying by the seat of my pants' has proven in one single stroke to be a terrible choice. The best choice is and always will be to stay on the ground.