Can a person send and receive text messages on a Apple Watch from an android phone?

In isolation, no. An iPhone is required. Per Apple: Make sure that your Apple Watch can connect to your iPhone, cellular, or Wi-Fi. To send and receive SMS/MMS from cellular models of Apple Watch, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but your iPhone doesn’t need to be nearby. (That Android is involved isn’t relevant.)

LMLinMedina wrote:

How can I connect with a friend that uses an android and I use a iPhone

Apple Messages app sends SMS/MMS messages just fine, if enabled and if SMS is available from the carriers.

Set up Messages on iPhone - Apple Support

As alternatives, Signal and other chat apps work, as well.

Kkdmo wrote:

Do you mean that I can use the Apple Watch with my android as long as the old iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular and turned

You cannot pair an Apple Watch with an Android phone.

There is no association between Apple Watch and an Android phone; there’s just no relationship.

You cannot send or receive SMS messages from Apple Watch to an Android or to any other phone from Apple Watch without the paired iPhone active.

You cannot send or receive SMS messages from Apple Watch via an Android phone.

If you want to use an Android phone, there are watches that will integrate with Android. Apple Watch is not that choice.

A friend and I are unable to connect in text msg. She has an android, I have a iPhone

Did your friend use to have an iPhone?

Switch texting from iMessage to Google Messages

https://support.google.com/android/answer/6156081?hl=en