The above picture is an aerial view of the Georgia State University beach volleyball complex. These three courts have been the home of the Georgia State Sandy Panthers since 2012 when the construction began. The addition of the mural came in 2019 and has made the already amazing courts even more welcoming. It is known and the hidden beach of Atlanta. There are buildings such as the capital and transportation such as Piedmont Ave, Marta, and a train that pass by every day.  The mural, sand, and music that plays over the sound system can make any visitor feel at home and relaxed. The beach atmosphere is something that has always relaxed me and I find this complex to be one of the most relaxing and stress-free zones in Atlanta.

One setting in Charles Dickens's novel David Copperfield that gives off a similar vibe is the Peggotty's house.  This cottage that is made out of a boat is situated right alongside the coast. The cottage smells of the sea and of fish which is the Peggotty's occupation. This home provides is filled with happy people who are very welcoming and treat David with the most respect and love. David is comfortable whenever he comes to visit and it is like all of his stress has disappeared for a while. This is the same feeling I get whenever I step into Georgia State's beach volleyball complex. This is my happy place, the place where I feel most valued and accepted. It is my purpose, the reason why I chose to attend school five and a half hours away from home. These courts offer acceptance and welcoming to any visitor that enters the same way that the boathouse of the Peggotty's take care of David when he is there. 

The difference between the beach volleyball complex and the Peggotty's house is that the beach complex is not alongside the ocean like the house. The complex replicates the feeling of being at the beach where the house is actually on the beach. Both places represent a mixture of people from all different backgrounds coming together to find community. The Peggotty's have many people living within their cottage that have come from all different walks of life. The same is true of the GSU beach volleyball team. All of the team members are from different parts of the country and world, have different home lives, cultures, and lifestyles but they all come together and are apart of a large family at the complex.

Works Cited

Georgia State Sports, 9 October 2020, https://georgiastatesports.com/news/2020/10/9/beach-volleyball-volleybal...