Ryan Ferguson on His First Year Out of Prison

One year since he was released after serving nearly 10 years in prison for a crime he says he never committed, Ryan Ferguson is doing his best to remain positive. 

"I thought when I got out I'd be really happy, you know, I got my freedom back,'' Ferguson told TODAY's Sheinelle Jones on Thursday. "But it's two different worlds, prison and out here, and I've found a lot of struggles." 

Since his release, Ferguson has moved from Missouri to Florida to be close with his loved ones and is celebrating the three most important things in his life. Jones asked him if he made a wish on his 30th birthday Oct. 19. 

"I have my wish,'' he said. "Family, friends, and freedom. So, the three Fs."

Ferguson's attorney, Kathleen Zellner, has filed a $100 million federal civil rights lawsuit seeking damages against current and former members of the Columbia, Missouri, Police Department and a prosecutor who is now a judge.

While Ferguson now works to raise awareness about his experience with the justice system, the time he spent behind bars is hard to forget. "It really hurts to think about that,'' he said. "You try to avoid it, but it's impossible. I missed out on all my 20s, and there's just no getting away from that." 

He also believes his story is just one of thousands involving people who are currently incarcerated because of wrongful convictions. 
"I have this opportunity to show people that this isn't just happening to me,'' Ferguson said. "I am not an anomaly. This happens all the time." 
Ferguson believes social media, particularly Facebook, played an important role in getting him released from prison by spreading awareness of his conviction. Ironically, he never had never been on Facebook until he was freed from prison. 

"It was definitely not the first night I got out,'' he joked. 

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