Diram Tabaa: Exploring opportunities to grow and learn

As we approach Graduation Day for the Class of 2024, we are sharing the stories of just a few of these remarkable people who will receive their degrees on May 6. Today we learn more about Diram Tabaa, who is representing his class as Arabic poem reader. 

For Diram Tabaa, a graduating senior in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), the undergraduate experience has been a pathway to exploring passions he has had since childhood.

“Since I was a kid,” he said, “I was very interested in math. I chose a more pragmatic career pathway in computer science. But at CMU-Q, I realized I could complement my education in CS with math that you usually don’t see in the CS field.”

“I completed a minor in mathematical sciences, and it was a very good way to satisfy my interest and curiosity.”

Diram also discovered new interests at CMU-Q, including Arabic debate. “Starting with debate was kind of accidental. A friend of mine suggested I apply, and in the end I was selected. Honestly, I think it is something that matches my personality, but I didn’t know about it.”

Diram was very active with QatarDebate during his undergraduate years, representing CMU-Q at many national and international tournaments. In the fall semester of his senior year, Diram competed in the United States Arabic Debates Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah. His team made it to the finals, and Diram placed fourth among the top speakers at the competition. 

 At the graduation ceremony on May 6, Diram will represent the Class of 2024 as the Arabic poem reader. Each year, one student is selected to read the Arabic poem, “Students of knowledge and virtue,” by Gibran Khalil Gibran. 

“The poem encourages students to use their knowledge to reach higher places, describing knowledge as light and powerful,” Diram reflected. “It makes me think of the opportunities and the experience I had at CMU and in Education City.”