🧠The BWOAQ Technique: How I’m Learning to Ask Better Questions in my Life
When I chose Computer Science as my major here in the United States, I was excited. I started learning new languages, working on side projects, and genuinely enjoying the process of building things with code.
But something unexpected happened along the way.
I started feeling overwhelmed—not by the coursework itself, but by the sheer number of people, especially from Nepal like me, who were also pursuing Computer Science. It made me question myself: Am I really unique in this field? Am I good enough?
Some days, I felt like giving up. Other days, I reminded myself why I chose this path in the first place.
⚖️ Between Computer Science and Physics At times, I thought about switching to Physics. It’s fascinating. It explains life, energy, motion, and the universe. I even read Elon Musk’s biography where he praised Physics as the most fundamental discipline to understand reality.
But when I reflected deeper, I realized something important: I didn’t fall in love with Physics—I fell in love with the idea of it.
On the other hand, Computer Science feels like a part of me. It’s not just academic. It’s how I think. It’s how I solve problems. It's what I return to when I'm confused about life.
So despite the doubts, I chose to stay.
🧠What Do I Truly Want? This question keeps coming back to me.
And over time, I’ve found that my core values are simple but powerful:
I want to contribute something meaningful to humanity
I want to take bold actions that have real-world impact
There are many ways to do that—through art, philosophy, literature, or technology. But in today’s world, I believe science and technology are the most powerful tools to uplift humanity.
That’s why I’m here. That’s why I study.
I’m only 18. I’ve just finished my first semester. That’s about 3% of my entire undergraduate journey. There’s still time. Around 1,080 days left to explore, fail, build, and grow.
🧠The Breakthrough: BWOAQ What really changed things for me wasn't a course or a professor—it was a mindset shift.
I realized I’d been asking myself the wrong questions all along. The kind of questions that confuse, demotivate, or lead nowhere.
So I created something I now call the BWOAQ Technique — short for:
Better Way Of Asking Questions
By simply rephrasing how I ask questions, I’ve unlocked a new way to think clearly and act purposefully.
Here’s how it works:
❌ Old Question ✅ BWOAQ Version How can I earn more money? What skills do I have that I can offer to earn money? What is the meaning of my life? What can I do to make my life meaningful today? Why am I bad at math/physics? What specific habits or strategies can I build to improve? How can I become an entrepreneur? What problems are people facing, and how can I solve them? How can I be good at computer science? What small daily skills can I add to improve in CS?
The answers that come from these better questions? They’re clear. Actionable. Hopeful.
🌱 Moving Forward I’m not chasing money. I’m not even chasing success in the way others define it.
I’m chasing clarity. I’m building skills. And I’m searching for ways to help others through technology.
I don’t have it all figured out. But I’ve learned this:
The quality of your questions determines the quality of your path.
So from now on, I’ll keep asking better questions. Because better questions lead to better answers. And better answers build better lives.
🧩 Let’s Build Something Meaningful Whether you’re in college like me, or just trying to figure out your next step in life, try the BWOAQ technique. It might change the way you think. It did for me.
You don’t need all the answers. You just need the right questions.
Bibek Tiwari