"I saw it as a way to me develop myself" => I saw it as a way for me to develop myself.
This "for <someone> to <verb>" is a common pattern to mean "that <someone> should <verb>".
- It is not for me to decide = I am not the one who should decide it.
- His idea was for me to it = H was thinking that I should do it.
- There is no place for me to stay = There is no place where I can stay.