A ‘New’ Britain for exchange student Zakaria Butt

By Julian Layne ’25

When Zakaria Butt boarded a flight to the United States on Aug. 19, 2025, he knew surprisingly little about Connecticut or Central Connecticut State University. What began as a leap into the unknown would become one of the most transformative experiences of his life.

A journalism student from England, Butt decided to study abroad after hearing about Central from a fellow journalism student who spent a year at the university. That recommendation ultimately led him across the Atlantic for a year of new experiences, friendships, and personal growth. He returned home to the United Kingdom on June 30, carrying memories that he says will stay with him forever.

Once he arrived, Butt quickly immersed himself in campus life. Rather than simply documenting his experience for himself, he began sharing it with others through videos on social media.

“Making videos and sharing my experiences with the residents on campus and showing them the point of view of an Englishman in the state made me quite popular amongst the campus,” he said. “It resulted in me making lots of friends both in and out of class.”

Those connections became one of the defining parts of his exchange year.

“The people I met over there are now friends I have made for life,” Butt said.

Academically, the experience proved equally rewarding. Butt earned a place on the Dean’s List twice during his year at Central. 

“Being on the Dean’s List for both of my semesters abroad really stood out as a big achievement of mine,” he said. “I was able to demonstrate my academic abilities to my full potential.”

As a journalism student, Butt found opportunities to learn more about the field beyond the classroom. Courses exposed him to new software and practical experiences that helped him grow as a communicator and storyteller, and he contributed social media support to the annual Central Sports Film Fest.

“The journalism course at Central really gave me the opportunity to expand my skill set,” he said. “Graphics, news anchoring, and producing helped me become a better journalist, and the support from my professors and peers was an enjoyable and helpful experience.”
Those experiences reinforced his career ambitions and opened doors he hopes to pursue in the future.

“I would like to apply these skills in the future for a role either in England or even a return to the States if possible,” Butt said.

While academics played a major role in his time abroad, many of his strongest memories came from the cultural differences he encountered every day. Through his TikTok and Instagram accounts, @zbvlogz, he documented what he called his “culture shocks” and shared them with his followers.

“Whether it was insane portion sizes or just the sheer size of supermarkets and buildings, it was everything I was shown as a child in U.S. media,” he said. “Along with all my travels around the states, it made it seem like I was in a movie.” 

Zak also took full advantage of his year abroad by exploring far beyond Connecticut. During his exchange year, he traveled to Puerto Rico and Mexico, as well as 20 U.S. states, including New York, California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, Nevada, Maine, Massachusetts and Louisiana. From taking in the sights of New York City and Washington, D.C., to standing at the Grand Canyon and experiencing the West Coast, each trip gave him a deeper appreciation for the country's diversity. 

He documented many of those experiences on TikTok and Instagram, sharing his perspective as an English exchange student while encouraging others to consider studying abroad.

One aspect of American life that particularly resonated with him was the enthusiasm surrounding college athletics.

“The college football and sports games were one of my favorites,” Butt said. “Seeing mascots and cheerleaders showing the Blue Devil pride made me a fan for life.”

His online audience even became part of the journey. Butt affectionately referred to his followers as “the Connecticutians,” a nickname that began to catch on among students and online viewers throughout the year.

Beyond the excitement of sports, travel, and social media, Butt said the most remarkable part of his experience was how quickly international students were able to feel at home.

“International students like myself and the group we had were able to see the United States and adapt to the culture so quickly, which made for an unforgettable time,” he said.
He credits many parts of the university for helping create that sense of belonging, from orientation programs to the wide variety of student organizations available throughout the year.

“All the way from orientation to the weekly variety of clubs on campus, there is something for everyone,” Butt said.

Looking back, Butt has become a passionate advocate for studying abroad and encourages other students to take similar opportunities if they can.

“After the year I had, I have become the biggest advocate for studying abroad, and Central is the perfect place for it,” he said. “If there’s ever an opportunity to return to Central,” Butt said, “I’d be there in a heartbeat.”

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Exchange student Zakaria Butt settles in on the Central campus.

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Exchange student Zakaria Butt poses with a classmate at ESPN headquarters.

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Butt visits Tinsel Town during his year abroad in the U.S.

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